INTRODUCTION:
Islamic Human Rights Commission has received reports of heavily armed Nigerian security forces surrounding the place where Sheikh Zakzaky is detained, and they intend to forcibly move Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife to Kaduna Prison.
Given the current life threatening medical conditions of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, the forced transfer will put their lives in danger.
We request campaigners to write to pressure on governments and organisations to stop this forced transfer and demand justice for the Sheikh Zakzaky and the vistims of Zaria Massacre.
Despite the regular brutal crackdown by security forces, the Free Zakzaky protests and demonstrations have continued without dwindling, especially in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. This move by the government is an effort to curb the momentum of the FreeZakzaky campaign.
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: Life Threatening, Forcible Movement of Sheikh Zakzaky
- Due to the urgency of the matter we urge you to write ASAP to different organisations. A model letter and contact details of various organisations is provided below.
- If you receive a response please forward it to IHRC at info@ihrc.org
Model email / Letter
[Address]
[Date]
Dear Sirs,
I am writing you to bring to your attention a matter of the utmost urgency. Heavily armed Nigerian government forces have surrounded the place where leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, Muallima Zeenah are detained. Security forces intend to forcibly move them to Kaduna Prison, despite their life threatening medical conditions, and to force them to attend a court session tomorrow, against their will. Sheikh Zakzaky has declined to attend the lower court as the govertnment continues to violate an earlier High Court judgement ordering the government to release him.
On 02 December 2016 the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that Sheikh Zakzaky and Muallimah Zeenah should be released within 45 days. The court described their detention, which began in December 2015 as illegal and unconstitutional.The deadline for the court order expired on 16 January 2017 but the Nigerian Government has refused to obey the court order. the Nigerian government has kept him detained illegally for over two years now and Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife still remain in the custody of the state, in clear contempt of the court order.
Sheikh Zakzaky is being unlawfully detained and current trumped up charges against him are part of a wider effort to cover up the gruesome crimes commited by members of the security forces in Zaria in December 2015 that left at least 1000 civilians dead.
The attempted move to Kaduna is also a desperate effort to deflect attention from the ongoing daily FreeZakzaky demonstrations in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Security forces have regularly attacked peaceful FreeZakzaky protesters, they have killed at least 6, arrested, tortured and injured hundreds of them with live bullets and teargas over the last few months.
The state’s denial of medical treatment to Sheikh Zakzaky has led to a severe deterioration in his medical conditions and ant attempt to move him forcefully will put his life in danger.
I am extremly concerned as Sheikh zakzaky suffered a stroke in early January and his condition has been further aggravated due to continued unlawful detention and preventing access to adequate medical treatment. he was shot by security forces more than two years ago, losing his left eye in the process and is currently at risk of losing the use of his other eye.
It is imperative that you apply pressure on the Nigerian authoroties so that they do not move Sheikh Zakzaky and endanger his life. it is also critical that they adhere to the High Court judgement of December 2016, and release Sheikh zakzaky and his wife immediately.
Your’s Sincerely,
[Name]
CONTACT DETAILS AND SALUTATIONS:
Commonwealth Secretariat Contact Details:
Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC
Commonwealth Secretariat
Marlborough House
Pall Mall
London
SW1Y 5HX
Email: info@commonwealth.int; geneva@commonwealth.int
African Union Contact Details:
African Union Chairperson
Mr Paul Kagame
Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area), W21K19,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Email: au-banjul@africa-union.org ; DIC@african-union.org
Nigerian President:
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/
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
Here are some Embassy / High Commission numbers that you may find useful.
Canada
Tel: (613) 236-0521/2/3
Fax: +1-613-236-0529
Email: chancery@nigeriahcottawa.com
USA
Telephone: [1] (202) 986-8400
Fax: [1] (202) 362-6552
Malaysia
Phone : +603 42518512
+603 42517843
Fax : +603 42524302
Indonesia
Phone: +62-21-5260922
+62-21-5260923
+62-21-5227842
Fax: +62-21-5260924
Email: abubakarabduljalili@yahoo.com
UK
Tel: +44 207 839 1244
fax: +44 20 7839 8746
email: enquiry@nigeriahighcommissionuk.com
Australia
+61 2 6282 7411
Fax: +61-62-2865332
Email: chancery@nigeria-can.org.au
South Africa
Phone: + (27-12) 342-0808
Fax:+27-12-342-0718
Email: nhcp@iafrica.com
Turkey:
Tel: + 90-312-4481077 – 79
Fax: +90-312-4481082
Email: ambassador@embassynigeriatr.org
Pakistan:
Email: nigeriahc_islamabad@yahoo.com
Fax No: +92512832191
Tel No: +92512832194-96
