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Nigeria Digest #89

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Nigeria Digest #89

6 July 2019

Islamic Human Rights Commission
NIGERIA DIGEST 06 July 2019 (Volume 3 Issue 21)

Introduction
Action Alert
Articles
Videos
Archive

INTRODUCTION

Below please find the last week’s update on the Free Zakzaky campaign. New medical findings raised concerns about the further deteriorating life threatening medical condition of Sheikh Zakzaky and triggered massive protests across the 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 to demand the Nigerian authorities release Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife for urgent medical treatment abroad. Please forward any responses you receive to us on wajahat@ihrc.org and keep the pressure up by continuing to send follow-ups. Two model letters are 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 victims of violence in Nigeria. You can donate to support the medical expenses of those recently injured by Clicking here

2. Campaigners are asked to demand the Nigerian authorities release Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife for urgent medical treatment abroad. Two model letters, one for individual campaigners and one for the organisations are provided below. Please forward any responses you receive to IHRC at wajahat@ihrc.org.

UK based campaigners please Click here to send an email to Mr Olukunle A. Bamgbose, acting Nigerian High Commissioner in London UK.

Please share following action alert link with your contacts to encourage more people demand freedom for Sheikh Zakzaky: https://www.ihrc.org.uk/activities/22927-urgent-alert-nigeria-demand-urgent-medical-treatment-for-life-threatening-medical-condition-of-sheikh-zakzaky/

ACTION ALERT FOR INDIVIDUAL CAMPAIGNERS: Demand urgent medical treatment for Sheikh Zakzaky

Model letter for Individual campaigners
Please adapt the model below depending on who you are sending it to. The contact details you need are presented below the model. Please forward any response you receive to IHRC on wajahat@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.

In the last few days, Sheikh Zakzaky’s health has further deteriorated. Last month doctors examining the 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 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]

ACTION ALERT FOR ORGANISATIONS: Demand immediate release and offer to host Sheikh Zakzaky in your country for medical treatment.

Campaigning 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 for Organisations
Please adapt the model below and forward any response you receive to IHRC on wajahat@ihrc.org.
Click on following link to find the name, address and contact details of the relevant diplomat in your country: 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 to raise our concerns about the life threatening medical condition and continued detention of Mu’allim Ibrahim Zakzaky. In the last few days, Sheikh Zakzaky’s health has further deteriorated. Last month 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.

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 year 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 and his wife in Name Country and 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

CONTACT DETAILS

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

IHRC Press Release: New medical findings prompt plea for urgent evacuation of Sheikh Zakzaky
05 July 2019

Further examinations on the health of the illegally detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria have found that the levels of lead toxicity in his body are much higher than the already critical levels reported last week.

Doctors now say that lead levels in Sheikh Zakzaky’s blood are 25% higher than originally discovered and some 45 times over the normal acceptable limit.

Doctors also found worrying levels of cadmium in urine samples taken from Sheikh Zakzaky. Cadmium toxicity affects multiple organs particularly the lungs and the gastrointestinal tract (acute toxicity) and the bones and kidneys.

The latest findings are by specialists asked to look in more detail at the results of examinations undertaken by a IHRC-led medical team that flew to Nigeria in April in order to examine Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah, who is also in detention.

Free Zakzaky Protest at FCDA Mosque, Abuja
05 July 2019

Daily free Zakzaky protest was staged on Friday the 5th of July 2019 at FCDA Mosque. Thousands called for the freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky who has been detention for over 3 years despite a court verdict to be released.

The protesters chanted various slogans condemning the unlawful detention of the revered Sheikh whose health condition gets worse daily.

Free Zakzaky Takes Case To National Assembly Yet Again
05 July 2019

Not for the first time, the momentous Free Zakzaky Campaign Train today Thursday called at the gates of the National Assembly forcing a delegation to address the thousands that were part of the peaceful protest. They were received by a delegation of the national Assembly led by Alhassan Ado Doguwa representing Doguwa / Tudun Wada Federal Constituency of Kano State.

Ado Doguwa and other members listened to the grievances of the Islamic Movement and were even reportedly said to have shed tears on hearing about the plight of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife. Thereafter, he addressed the members of the Movement, pledging that the national Assembly would this time around do something urgent to see that Sheikh Zakzaky is accorded his rights to health.

Remembrance Day for Martyrs Marked in Kano
05 July 2019

The falling martyrs of Kano zone of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria leads by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky(H) were remembered today Friday the 5th of July, 2019, in the city of Kano.

It is an annual program which is organised to remember those martyred in the struggle since the inception of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, under the spiritual leadership of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky(H).

URGENT ALERT: NIGERIA
Demand urgent medical treatment for life threatening medical condition of Sheikh Zakzaky
04 July 2019

Islamic Human Rights Commission has received reports that Sheikh Zakzaky’s health has further deteriorated and given the current life threatening medical conditions of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, we request campaigners to make dua and demand Nigerian authorities immediately release Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife for medical treatment abroad.

In the last few days Sheikh’s health has further deteriorated. The lead levels in Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky are described as so dangerously high as to render immediate treatment a medical emergency.
Click here for further details

Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 4th July
04 July 2019

Thousands protest continued detention of Sheikh Zakzaky in Abuja on Thursday the 4th of July 2019. The commitment to move forward no matter what can be seen in the thousands of people who daily fill the streets of Abuja calling on authority to release the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Zakzaky who is suffering from various forms of illness due to massive deposit of lead in his body from gunshot wounds.

Free Zakzaky protest in Kaduna on 4th of July
04 July 2019
Another fresh free Sheikh Zakzaky protest was staged in Kaduna on Thursday the 4th of July 2019. People carrying some banners took to the major street in Kaduna, the popular Ahmadu Bello Way, calling for the freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky.

An Impressive Free Zakzaky Procession In The Heart Of Abuja
03 July 2019

A very impressive Free Zakzaky procession was yet again held today Wednesday July 3rd 2019, in the major streets of the heart of Abuja, the nations capital.

This is one of the series of incessant street actions calling for the immediate release of the ailing leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife. The Sheikh was recently found to have been poisoned while still in the detention of the Department of State Security (DSS). This has spurred a renewed call for his immediate release to enable him attend to his health condition.

Massive Protest in Abuja calling on Buhari to free Sheikh Zakzaky
02 July 2019

Free Zakzaky Massive Protest was staged in Abuja on Tuesday the 2nd of July 2019 by thousands of people calling for the immediate release of Sheikh Zakzaky in order to access medical treatment after finding high levels of lead toxicity in his body.

A Medical Team lead by Islamic Human Right Commission ( IHRC) were in Nigeria in April in order to examine Sheikh Zakzaky and has already issued two reports saying that the specialist treatment he requires can only be fully accessed outside Nigeria. Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky lost sight in one eye and the use of one arm after receiving four gunshot injuries during the December 2015 massacre by the Nigerian military of over 1000 followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. The toxicity is a direct result of the shrapnel from bullets left in his body.

Massive Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 1st July
01 July 2019
A monumental free Sheikh Zakzaky protest was staged in Abuja today Monday the 1st of July 2019. Thousands called on the Nigerian Government under Buhari to free Sheikh Zakzaky his wife and hundred others from unlawful detention for over three years as the health condition of the Sheikh deteriorates.

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.

The Zaria Massacre
Published on 14 December 2015
On al-Quds Day in July 2014, a unit of the Nigerian army opened fire on one of the 33 al-Quds Day demonstrations in Zaria, Nigeria. 40 were killed and many injured. This is the story of that day as uncovered by an IHRC team.