Islamic Human Rights Commission
NIGERIA DIGEST 01 June 2019 (Volume 3 Issue 18)

Introduction
Action Alert
Articles
Videos
Archive

INTRODUCTION

Below please find last week’s update on the Free Zakzaky campaign. During this week Nigerian Police violently attacked one of the Quds day demonstrations and opened fire on peaceful demonstrators rallied in support of Palestine.

Click here to watch the weekly message from IHRC chair Massoud Shadjerah about our fundraising and campaigning for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. Please CLICK here for more information to support the victims of police and army brutality in Nigeria and do share the fundraising video provided. They are in urgent need of our support please DONATE here and encourage others to do the same.

We request campaigners keep the pressure on the Commonwealth by writing emails/letters, demanding the immediate release of the Sheikh and all those unjustly imprisoned. Please forward any responses you receive to us on wajahat@ihrc.org and keep the pressure up by continuing to send follow-ups. A model letter is provided below in the Action Alert.

To find out more about the Zaria massacre of 2015, 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

Free Zakzaky!

ACTION ALERT: 

1. Click here to learn the five things you can do to support the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. You can donate to support the medical expenses of those recently injured by Clicking here

2. Click here to send an email to the Commonwealth and demand their intervention in this case. A model letter and contact details of the Commonwealth are provided below. Please forward any responses you receive to IHRC at wajahat@ihrc.org.

Model email / letter
If you are emailing, please use the following in the subject line:
Commonwealth’s failure to act on human rights abuses in Nigeria

Your name
Your address
Date

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

Dear Baroness Scotland QC,

Re: Commonwealth’s failure to act on human rights abuses in Nigeria

Nigeria has been the subject of repeated complaints over its killings of supporters of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria from 2015 onwards and the arrest and prosecution of its leader Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, his wife Zeenah and other members.

In stark contrast to the Commonwealth Secretariat’s robust stand during the tenure of President Abacha years, very little if anything has been said about this issue from your office.

Nigerian authorities are currently trying Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife along with two other members of the Islamic Movement on trumped up charges relating to events surrounding the massacre in December 2015 by the Nigerian military of over 1000 followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.  This case has only been made after the federal court ruled in late 2016 (a year after their detention) that Sheikh Zakzaky’s detention and that of his wife Zeenah was unlawful and unconstitutional and ordered the government to release them by January 16, 2017 and pay compensation. That order was never implemented and the charges were brought against the couple in 2018.

It is imperative that you apply pressure on the Nigerian authorities so that they stop killing innocent people and adhere to the High Court judgement of December 2016, and release Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife immediately.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely,
[Name]

Commonwealth’s Contact Details:
Email: info@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

Breaking: Police Violently Attack Quds Procession In Kaduna
31 May 2019

The police in Kaduna have violently attacked this year’s Annual International Quds Procession by members of the Islamic Movement in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine.

The procession had been peaceful before the disruption by the police and in spite of this extreme provocation, the procession was carried to its logical conclusion.

Reports reaching the Islamic Movement in Nigeria from Kaduna metropolis indicated that many people are feared injured and arrested as the police fired on peaceful International Quds Day procession globally commemorated today in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine. Click here to read the full report.

Nigerian Muslims Send Clear Message To Netanyahu, “You aren’t welcome here”
31 May 2019
This year’s International Quds day celebration, usually being marked globally on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine, is coming on the heels of an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu to Nigeria by President Buhari.However, millions of Muslims in Nigeria turned out for this year’s International Quds day celebration in all parts of Nigeria denouncing the illegitimate state of Israel, burning its flag and the edifice of Netanyahu. It is a clear message that the Prime Minister is not welcome and the overwhelming support of Nigerians remain solidly with the oppressed Palestinians.

Intl Quds Day 2019 Processions in Potiskum, Gashua
31 May 2019

Another Quds Day processions took place in Potiskum on Friday the 31 of May 2019. Similar one staged in Gashua all in Yobe state

 Quds Day, officially called International Quds Day, is an annual event held on the last Friday of Ramadan that was initiated by the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979 to express support for the Palestinians and oppose Zionism and Israel. Nominally, it exists in opposition to the Jerusalem Day celebration instituted by Israel in May 1968, and which Knesset law changed into a national holiday in 1998.

Quds Day Procession in Daura and Mashi in Katsina State
31 May 2019

In Daura, Katsina state, Large Number of people marked the International Quds day today Friday the 26th of Ramadan 1440 (31/5/219). At the same Time a similar procession took place in Mash  another Local Government Area in Katsina.

International Quds Day procession in Sokoto Today Friday
31 May 2019
Pictures of International Quds day Procession in Sokoto Nigeria on Friday the 26th of Ramadan 1440 (31/5/2019). Quds day is the day of the oppressed declared by Imam Khoemeini QS in the commemoration of the oppressed people of the Palestine.

Massive Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on Tuesday 28th of May 2019
28 May 2019
Massive Free Zakzaky protest rock ABuja on Tuesday the 28th of May 2019 calling for the unconditional Release of Sheikh Zakzaky.

VIDEOS

Appeal to Help Recent Nigeria Massacre Victims
Published on 01 November 2018 – IHRC Weekly
The Nigerian authorities have attacked the Islamic Movement of Nigeria leaving dozens dead. They need your help now.

International Quds Day 2019 in Kaduna, in spite of the Police raid
31 May 2019
Thousands have joined this year’s Quds day procession in Kaduna, Nigeria despite brutal Police attacks. Click on following link to watch a short clip of the demonstration.

ARCHIVE

CLICK HERE to Watch the story of the Al Quds Day in July 2014, when over 40 peaceful demonstrators were killed and many injured by Nigerian Army

CLICK HERE to read The Historic Reflection on Quds Day Massacre 2014

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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
PO Box 598
Wembley
HA9 7XH
United Kingdom

Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
Email: info@ihrc.org
Web: www.ihrc.org
Twitter @ihrc

The opinions expressed in this email do not necessarily reflect the views of IHRC