Islamic Human Rights Commission
NIGERIA DIGEST 29 June 2019 (Volume 3 Issue 20)
Introduction
Action Alert
Articles
Videos
Archive
INTRODUCTION
Below please find the last two weeks’ update on the Free Zakzaky campaign. Recent news of the Sheikh’s deteriorating health and high levels of lead toxicity in his body have triggered massive demonstrations across Nigeria.
Click here to watch the weekly message from IHRC chair Massoud Shadjerah about our fundraising and campaigning for those injured by police and army violence and the families of those killed. 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 Secretariat 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
Hundreds of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, this night trooped out in an emergency midnight Free Zakzaky procession on learning about the increasingly deteriorating health condition of the leader.
Sheikh Zakzaky has been in DSS detention since December 2015 after the Nigerian army attacked him in his residence, severely injuring him and killing over a thousand people with him including his three sons.
He never had adequate medical treatment since then, and he suffered a stroke in January last year. That didn’t prompt the Buhari government to obey a Federal High Court that ordered the release of the ailing Sheikh.
IHRC Press Release: Toxicity levels “off the scale” in body of Sheikh Zakzaky
28 June 2019
Doctors examining the beleaguered leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria have renewed pleas for him to be released in order to access medical treatment after finding high levels of lead toxicity in his body.
The lead levels in Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky are described as so dangerously high as to render immediate treatment a medical emergency.
An IHRC-led medical team that flew to Nigeria in April in order to examine Sheikh Zakzaky has already issued two reports saying that the specialist treatment he requires can only be fully accessed outside Nigeria.
Click here to read the full press release.
Free Zakzaky Peaceful Protest in Abuja on 27th of June
27 June 2019
Free Sheikh protest in the Federal Capital Abuja was staged on Thursday the 27th of June 2019 calling for the release of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife by Brothers and Sisters.
The daily protest will not end until the Sheikh gain his freedom as the condition of the revere leader and his wife continue to deteriorate to which Buhari regime gives no concern. The daily protests which goes on for more than two years shows that protesters and peaceful despite provocation from security forces. There is not level of crackdown which can stop the peaceful protests.
Press Conference: Still On The Deteriorating Health Of Sheikh Zakzaky And His Wife
26 June 2019
The Academic Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria held a press conference today 26 June 2019 at Savannah Suites Garki Abuja, below is the text of the conference for your kind publication, thank you so much.
Still On The Deteriorating Health Of Sheikh Zakzaky And His Wife On 22nd day of January, 2019, the legal counsel of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and Malama Zeenah Ibraheem made an application requesting unrestricted access to their doctors for urgent medical attention.
Subsequent to that development, the Kaduna State High Court, presided by Justice G. Kurada granted the request to allow the defendant’s chosen physicians to examine them.
Click here to read further details.
Free Zakzaky Peaceful Protest at Federal Secretariat Abuja
26 June 2019
The daily free Sheikh Zakzaky peaceful protest was staged in Abuja today Wednesday the 26th of June 2019 attended by thousands of people calling on Buhari regime to release the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky whose health Condition requires medical attention
due to bullet injures when he was attacked in December 2015 by the Nigerian army. the Daily Protests have been sustained for the two years now.
Free Sheikh Zakzaky Protest in Central Abuja on 24th of June
24 June 2019
A fresh Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on Monday the 24th of June 2019. The Protesters called for the unconditional release of Sheikh Zakzaky whose health condition requires urgent medical care.
Free Zakzaky Protest in Lafiya, Nasarawa state
21 June 2019
Another massive free Sheikh Protest was staged in Lafia town, Nasarwa state, just like other cities and towns, on Friday the 21st of June 2019. The protest was peaceful and was terminated in the city centre. It started from Gabas Jumaa Mosque and terminated at Doma way along Markurdi road.
Buhari Playing With The Health Of Sheikh Zakzaky
21 June 2019
Islamic Movement in Nigeria has accused the Buhari-led Nigerian government of toying with the health situation of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. This was contained in a press release issued today as members took to the streets of towns and cities nationwide to protest against the deteriorating health condition of the Sheikh.
Friday 21/06/2019 marks exactly the day Sheikh Zakzaky and his followers spent 42 months and 10 days in illegal brutal detention. Their incarceration started on Saturday 12/12/2015, with the Zaria massacre executed by the Nigerian military. Since then we have not rested on our oars, we have been trooping out from time to time voicing our concern and disapproval of the way Buhari administration is handling this monumental tragedy of killing of 1000+ civilians in Zaria and the continued detention of our leader Sheikh Zakzaky even in the face of a high court order of his release and payment of compensation.
Click here for the full press release.
Free Zakzkay Protest in Kaduna on Friday 21st of June
21 June 2019
Massive free Zakzaky protest was staged in Kaduna on Friday the 21st of June 2019. The peaceful protesters took to the major street in the city- Ahmadu Bello Way, calling for the unconditional release of their leader, his wife and hundreds others from illegal detention.
They shout different slogans as moved gently on the road. Observers greeted the protesters as they moved with courage and determination.
Free Sheikh Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 20th of June
20 June 2019
Another Free Sheikh Zakzaky protest rocked Abuja on Thursday the 20th of June 2019 as vehicles carrying security forces arrived at the scene. Soldiers were seen taking position in attempt to disrupt the protesters.
The peaceful protest was terminated at Federal Secretariat without hitches. It started around 10:30am when the protesters began assembling at the frontage of the Federal Secteriate Abuja.
An hour to noon the protest kicked with a loud Saying God is great, the protesters came out from difference angles chanting Free Zakzaky.
Despite the threat from the Guard Brigade of Nigerian Army the protest paraded the three Arms Zone chanting diverse slogans demanding the unconditional release of of the Shaikh and his spouse.
Fresh Free Zakzaky Peaceful protest in Abuja on 19th June 2019
19 June 2019
Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on Wednesday the 19th of June 2019 calling for the unconditional release of Sheikh Zakzaky whose health deteriorate daily as a result of remains of bullet particles in his body
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.
Many of Sheikh Zakzaky followers were tortured to death – ArbaeenTrek 2018
Published on 20 November 2018
Many of the followers of Sheikh Zakzaky were captured alive and tortured to death during attack on ArbaeenTrek 2018, watch a video clip of Nigerian Army capturing peaceful protesters in Abuja ArbaeenTrek 2018.
ARCHIVE
Click here to read the IHRC Report “Investigating the attack against the Islamic Movement of Nigeria on 12-13 December 2015 in Zaria”, published on 21 March 2016.
Click here to read the Arzu Merali’s blog on Sheikh Zakzaky “The Unbearable Shianess of Mu’allim Ibraheem El-Zakzaky”, published on 21 December 2017
————————————————————————————–
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
