Islamic Human Rights Commission
NIGERIA DIGEST 20th January 2018 (Volume 2 Issue 5)
Introduction
Action Alert
Articles and Resources Digest
INTRODUCTION
Update on continuous regular protests and daily Free Zakzaky Sit Out in the capital Abuja and World wide prayers for the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Zakzaky.
IHRC has sent a letter to Nigerian High Commissioner in London and offered to host Sheikh Zakzaky for the medical treatment in UK. Other organisations in Malaysia, Indonesia and Turkey are sending similar letters to the Nigerian Embassy in their countries. We request all campaigning organisations to send similar letters and offer to host Sheikh Zakzaky for the medical treatment in your country. Individual campaigners please keep on praying for Sheikh and demand his immediate release. Two model letters are provided in action alert, one for the organisations and one for the individual campaigners.
To find out more about Zaria massacre, read IHRC’s submission to the International Criminal Court HERE
To find out how you can help further please visit the IHRC FreeZakzaky campaign page HERE
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Free Zakzaky!
ACTION ALERT FOR THE ORGANISATIONS: Demand immediate release to host Sheikh Zakzaky in your country for medical treatment
Campaigners / Organisations are requested to demand meeting with local Nigerian Embassy and offer to host Sheikh Zakzaky for urgent medical treatment in your country, using the model letter below.
Model letter
Please adapt the model below and insert details in yellow highlighted areas depending on if you are writing as an individual or an organisation and who you are sending it to. Please forward any response you receive to IHRC on info@ihrc.org.
Please find the name, address and contact details of the relevant diplomat in your country here:
https://www.embassypages.com/nigeria
If you are emailing, please use the following in the subject line:
MEETING TO DISCUSS URGENT MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR SHEIKH ZAKZAKY
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
His Excellency [Insert Name]
Embassy Address
Your Excellency,
We are writing to you raise our concerns about the continued detention of Mu’allim Ibrahim Zakzaky, head of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).
I am sure you are aware that Shaykh Zakzaky’s house was demolished and he was injured and arrested by the Nigerian military on 14 December 2015, and has been held since without any charges or a trial. Shaykh Zakzaky, whose health has rapidly deteriorated, is in need of special medical attention. Since his arrest, Shaykh Zakzaky has lost his sight in one eye and the use of one arm. Shaykh Zakzaky also suffered a stroke earlier this month which has further aggravated his dire condition.
The courts ordered Shaykh Zakzaky’s release and he should have been free since 15 January 2017, unfortunately the security services have continued to detain him contrary to court order.
Shaykh Zakzaky’s condition requires specialist medical attention and will need to go abroad to get the necessary treatment. We Name organization is happy to host Shaykh Zakzaky in Name Country and I/we will cover all the costs involved, including his travel, accommodation, medical expenses as well as any other expenses that may arise from the trip.
This matter has now dragged on for two years and has become a major blemish on Nigeria’s good name in the international arena. We urge you to use all your powers and influence to help bring about a swift and peaceful resolution.
We would like to request a meeting to discuss this matter further. Please provide a date and time you will be available to discuss how this matter can be resolved.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours sincerely,
NAME
ACTION ALERT FOR INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNERS: Demand urgent medical treatment for Sheikh Zakzaky
Campaigners are asked to write to or email the Nigeria President and the Nigerian Ambassador or High Commissioner in your country, using the model letter below.
Model letter
Please adapt the model below depending on who you are sending it to. The addresses and salutations you need are presented below the model. Please forward any response you receive to IHRC on info@ihrc.org.
If you are emailing, please use the following in the subject line:
URGENT MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR SHEIKH ZAKZAKY
[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]
[Insert name / address of
Person you are sending this to]
Dear [insert name],
I write to demand that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife Mallima Zeenah are allowed to leave the country for urgent medical treatment.
The continued detention of both of these figures as well as hundreds of others has been a huge stain on the reputation of your government and Nigeria. By not allowing Sheikh Zakzaky and Mallima Zeenah, whose health continues to severely deteriorate as a result of injuries inflicted by your authorities, the medical treatment he needs, you are adding further evidence of your government’s inhumanity and cruelty.
I look forward to your confirmation of their release for treatment by return.
Your sincerely,
[Your signature if posting]
[Your name]
Addresses and salutations
(i) President Muhammadu Buhari
H.E. President Muhammadu Buhari
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Office of the President
Aso Rock, Abuja
Nigeria
You can submit an email by this form but this page often does not work:
https://statehouse.gov.ng/contacts/
(ii) Nigerian Ambassador / High Commissioner in your country
Please find the name, address and contact details of the relevant diplomat in your country here:
https://www.embassypages.com/nigeria
ARTICLES AND RESOURCES
Prayers Held Worldwide For Illegally Detained Nigeria Islamic Movement leader
19 January 2018
Millions of people in mosques all over the world have prayed again this Friday for the health and prompt release of the detained leader of Nigeria’s Islamic Movement.
Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky recently suffered a stroke aggravating an already poor condition caused when he was shot during a military attack on his movement two years ago.
Supplications have been made again be at Friday prayers in Sunni and Shia mosques in the UK and countries all over Europe, the US, the Middle East and Africa, Iran, Turkey Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Malaysia amongst other places.
#FreeZakzaky Protest In Abuja
19 January 2018
A massive FreeZakzaky protest was staged in Abuja on Friday the 19th of Jan 2018 at National Mosque, Abuja. Thousands of brothers and sisters are holding regular protests in capital Abuja to demand immediate release of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife for medical treatment.
Daily FreeZakazaky Sit Out In Abuja Enters It’s Third Day
19 January 2018
The daily sit-out in Abuja enters it’s Thhird day today. Sit out commenced on Wednesday 17th January, 2018 at Unity Fountain and is conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner, as always instructed by the leader of organisation Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky.
A large number of people from different backgrounds participated in Sit Out, ranging from human rights groups, people of conscience, activists, friends and sympathizers of the Islamic Movement.
Students protest in capital of Nigeria demand freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky
18 January 2018
Another #FreeZakzaky protest was staged by students in Abuja on 18th January 2018. This protest was part of new wave of massive protests in capital Abuja and all over the world after reports of deteriorating medical condition of Sheikg Zakzaky. Students from different cities joined together to demand immediate release of illegally detained, leader of Islamic Movement of Nigeria for immediate medical treatment.
2nd Day Of Daily FreeZakzaky Sit Out In Abuja
18 January 2018
The daily Free Zakzaky Sit Out embarked by a coalition of groups in Abuja enters the second day.
Like the first day, the event was attended by hundreds of activists, groups, media outfits, diplomats and members of the Movement. Encircling a very big Nigerian flag, Green-White-Green with an emboldened inscription of #FreeZakzaky in the white part written in red, activists again delivered stimulating and inspirational speeches and slogans to the enthused audience. There were also the usual different banners and posters on display with different inscriptions. It was a great sight at a great scene as usual.
Daily Free Zakzaky Sit Out Gets To An Impressive Start
17 January 2018
The daily Free Zakzaky Sit Out embarked by a coalition of groups in Abuja gets underway to an impressive start.
The event witnessed the presence of hundreds of activists, groups, media outfits, diplomats and members of the Movement. Circled around a very large Nigerian flag of Green-White-Green with a very bold inscription of #FreeZakzaky in its middle in red, activist after activist took turns in giving speeches and slogans to the enthused audience. There were also different banners and posters on display with different inscriptions. It was a great sight at a great scene.
The first day was an impressive start. Security and Buhari Police equally in large numbers strategically took position with guns, clubs, sticks, teargas cannons, and hot water cannons…
FHC Judgement: Sheikh Zakzaky, Wife Were Set Free Entirely
17 January 2018
For some time some people erroneously assume that what Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Federal High Court Abuja granted to Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife was bail. The reality is that it was not a bail but a judgement declaring the detention of the duo as unconstitutional and therefore ordered for their release from custody. This has been contemptuously been defied with impunity.
Secondly, neither the Sheikh nor the wife had been charged before any court of law for any offence ithrough out the course of their two years incaceration. They could not have been granted “bail” since there were no charges whatsoever.
Thirdly, it was the Sheikh and his wife who engaged the services of Femi Falana SAN to challenge their detention, and seek the enforcement of their Fundamental rights to life, personal liberty, dignity of the human persons, right to private and family life and property. All the reliefs sought by the couple were granted by the Federal High Court, Abuja…
IG OF Police Competing To Surpass Army In Killing Of Islamic Movement Members
16 January 2018
In what appears to be a very toxic rivalry for Buhari’s attention and blood money, the Buhari Police Force under the murderous leadership of its Inspector-General of police (IGP), Ibrahim kpotun Idris, has stepped up its savagery level to march that of the Army.
A cursory look at the headlines in the past few weeks indicate that the numbers have stacked up, and are of such geometric proportions in the brutality scale.
In November 2017, we (reflections online) reported the show of shame in Abuja, as the Buhari Police unleashed its fury on peaceful procession…
Brother Binyamin undergoing MRI Scan, he was shot on last Tuesday FreeZakzaky Protest in Abuja. The bullet penetrated his body close to his vertebra and it is suspected that bullet tore spinal cord nerves, he is half paralysed with lower limb not functional.
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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
Islamic Human Rights Commission
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The opinions expressed in this email do not necessarily reflect the views of IHRC
