Islamic Human Rights Commission
NIGERIA DIGEST 14 April 2018 (Volume 2 Issue 17)

Introduction
Action Alert
Articles and Resources Digest

INTRODUCTION

To find out more about the 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: Medical Treatment for Life Threatening Medical Condition of Sheikh Zakzaky

1. CLICK HERE to send an email to the Commonwealth Secretary General and demand their intervention in this case, a model letter and contact details of the Commonwealth Secretariat also provided below

2. If you receive a response please forward it to IHRC at info@ihrc.org

Model email / letter

Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC
Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House
Pall Mall
London
SW1Y 5HX

[Date]

Dear Baroness Scotland QC,

Re: Sheikh Zakzaky

I am writing to ask for your urgent intervention to allow the illegally detained Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife to leave Nigeria for urgent medical treatment due to their critically deteriorating life threatening medical conditions.

15 April 2018 marks 100 continuous days of demonstrations in Nigeria demanding medical treatment for the life threatening medical condition of Sheikh Zakzaky.

The Sheikh’s personal doctor confirmed in his most recent report that his only remaining eye is in danger due to chronic glaucoma and recommended him to be taken abroad for urgent treatment by a specialist, this specialist treatment is not available in any of the Nigerian hospitals.

I am extremely concerned as Sheikh Zakzaky suffered a stroke in early January and his condition has further deteriorated due to continued unlawful detention preventing his medical treatment. He was shot severally more than two years ago, losing his left eye in the process and is currently at a great risk of losing the other eye.

I urge your office to play an active role and make known in unconditional terms that the Nigerian Government will be held directly responsible if anything happens to the Sheikh or his wife and due to seriousness and urgency of the situation I demand that the Commonwealth secretariat takes the following actions:

1. Send a representative to Nigeria to see Mu’allim Zakzaky, his family and other detainees to assess their situation and intervene to allow specialist medical treatment outside Nigeria.

2. Suspend Nigeria’s membership of the Commonwealth for the violence perpetrated by its army against the Islamic Movement of Nigeria;

3. Demand the release of those held after mass arrests or being handed over to civilian police authorities;

4. Demand the Nigerian government provide proper and immediate medical attention to all detainees and that all are released;

5. Call for an independent investigation, under the auspices of an international body like the UN, into the violence and mass graves. The bodies of those in the mass graves need to be exhumed, identified and returned to their families. The Nigerian government and army needs to be held accountable for these crimes.

I look forward to hearing from you

Yours Sincerely,

[Name]

Commonwealth Secretariat Contact Details:

Email: info@commonwealth.int; geneva@commonwealth.int

Postal Address: Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HX, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7747 6500, Fax: +44 (0) 20 7930 0827

ARTICLES AND RESOURCES

International Call For Demonstrations For Sheikh Zakzaky
14 April 2018
This Sunday 15 April 2018 marks 100 days since protests broke out all over Nigeria demanding the release of the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky. IHRC, in coordination with UJN and Global Free Zakzaky campaign, call for international protests to mark 100 days of continuous #FreeZakzaky protests in Nigeria. Campaigning organisations will hold protests in different countries including UK, Indonesia, Turkey, Denmark, Geneva and Pakistan. We request you to join this campaign with any type of field activities in your country or with social media campaigns.
Since 8 January 2018, six protesters have been killed by security forces. Hundreds more have been arrested and sustained injuries from beatings during their detention. The majority of those released were freed without charge.

Free Zakzaky Protest at Annur Mosque Abuja
13 April 2018
Protests and demonstrations are continued in Nigeria and yesterday another massive protest rocked Abuja. This Free Zakzaky peaceful protest started at Annur dake wuse ll Abuja on Friday the 13th of April 218. Protesters chanted for the immediate release of illegally detained Islamic Movement leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky for urgent medical treatment.

FGN Worries As ICC Investigates It Of Crimes Against Humanity
13 April 2018

The Federal Government Of Nigeria is becoming jittery as investigations by the International Criminal Court, ICC into major crimes it committed against citizens moves to the next stage.

The ICC is pursuing eight cases against Nigeria according to the minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami.

The minister stated this when Prof. Chile Osuji, the newly elected ICC leader visited him in Abuja.

The scare developed as the ICC moved from the stage of preliminary examination to the stage of preliminary investigation placing the FGN under investigation…

PRESS RELEASE – Abuja, Nigeria: Police arrest convener of pro-Zakzaky sit-in
13 April 2018

Police have arrested the convener of the daily Free Zakzaky sit-in protest in the Nigerian capital after putting on an intimidating show of force this afternoon.

Prince Deji Adeyanju was arrested and taken away to an unknown location by armed police as he took part in the daily protests which have been held in the city centre since the beginning of January.

Reasons for his arrest are unclear especially in view of the fact that the protests have been marked by their peaceful nature.

This Sunday 15 April 2018 marks 100 days since protests broke out all over Nigeria demanding the release of the detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky…

FreeZakzaky Daily Sit Out Continued in Abuja
13 April 2018

The continued detention of Sheikh Zakzaky after an unjustifiable brutal attacks on his compound in December 2015, has been described as grossly irresponsible by the anti-corruption activist, Honourable Ebenezer Oyetakin at the Daily Free Zakzaky Sit Out today at the Unity Fountain in Abuja.

Honorable Oyetakin was addressing the huge audience at the Unity Fountain during the 86th day of the Daily Free Zakzaky Sit Out campaign. Oyetakin was one of the speakers at the special Sit Out, which also doubled as the Martyrs Day, in honor of the nearly a thousand martyrs of the Islamic Movement.

Free Sheikh Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 12th of April 2018
12 April 2018
Thousands participated in this #FreeZakzaky protest which coincided with annual martyrs day. This massive free Zakzaky protest on Thursday the 12th of April 2018 was part of continued protests and demonstrations for last 3 months demanding release of Sheikh Zakzaky for medical treatment. The protest kicked up from Unity Fountain along Shehu Shagari way up to to Ministry of Justice.

Massive Turnout at Islamic Movement’s Annual Martyrs Remembrance Day
12 April 2018

The 27th Annual Martyrs Remembrance day also known as Yaumus Shuhada has recorded a large turnout yesterday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital with participants mostly members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria from all walks of life.

Since its inception, the event has been marked in Zaria, except last year’s that took place in different zones of the country and the latest that took place at the Unity Fountain, Abuja.

Free Sheikh Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 11th of April 218
11 April 2018

A massive free Zakzaky protest was staged in Abuja on Thursday the 11th of April 2018. The protest was attended by thousands and others NGOs under the Concerned Nigeria Group. It started from Unity Fountain along Shehu Shagari Road and terminated at National Assembly. Heavy presence of security forces could not stop the proteters from reaching the gate of the national assembly.

The peaceful protesters were carrying pictures of Sheikh Zakzaky and they chant different slogans condemning Zaria massacre. The aim of the protest is calling on the Government to free the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Zakzaky for medical attention whose health keeps deteriorating due serious gun injuries on body.

Another Massive Free Zakzaky Protest In Abuja on 10 of April
10 April 2018
Massive turnout at the free Zakzaky protest in Abuja on Tuesday the 10th of April 2018. Protesters with banners and placards demanded immediate release of Sheikh Zakzaky.

PRESS STATEMENT: The Army Being Used in Religious Vendetta in Jos
10 April 2018 – Islamic Movement Media Forum

On 31st March, 2018 a contingent of soldiers in five vehicles encircled the demolished Islamic center of members of the Islamic Movement in Jos and arrested two persons, who were part of a Islamic studies learning session taking place in the center.

Unfortunately to date, the arrested persons have not been charged of any offence and have not been released to their families. Those arrested are: Idris Muhammad and Awwal Husain.

The fact that members of the Islamic Movement were just conducting a religious obligation in a centre they legally own when they were pounced upon by the Army is enough a pointer to the Army’s complicity in executing a religious vendetta by some unscrupulous people. We condemn this disheartening attitude of the Army in the strongest terms.

Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 9th of April 2018
09 April 2018
A peaceful Free Sheikh Zakzaky Protest staged in Abuja on Monday the 9th of April 2018 attended by thousands calling on Government to free Sheikh Zakzaky for urgent medical attention.

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