From: Islamic Human Rights Commission

16 April 2018

PRESS RELEASE – NIGERIA/WORLDWIDE Protests held worldwide demanding release of Sheikh Zakzaky

Protests have been held worldwide demanding the release of the illegally detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky.

Demonstrators took to the streets in London, Geneva, Toronto, Turkey, Denmark, Indonesia and Pakistan on Sunday 15 April 2018 to mark 100 days since protests broke out all over Nigeria demanding the Sheikh’s release after he suffered a stroke at the beginning of the year.

The stroke aggravated an already poor condition caused when he was shot during a military attack on the Islamic Movement of Nigeria two years ago in the city of Zaria.

Despite calls by the Islamic Human Rights Commission and other supporters of the sheikh for his release him from unlawful detention so that his health can be assessed and he can receive medical treatment the Nigerian authorities have failed to act.

Demonstrations involving tens of thousands of the sheikh’s supporters have been staged daily in the capital Abuja as well as other towns and cities across northern Nigeria. Despite their totally peaceful nature the protests have been subject to sabotage and violent, often fatal, attacks by security forces intent on bringing the Islamic Movement of Nigeria into disrepute.

Since 8 January 2018 six protestors 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 released without charge.

The sheikh’s ordeal began after he was shot along with his wife, Zeenah, and arrested during an orgy of violence unleashed over three days in December 2015 on supporters of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in what was widely seen as a bid to curb the movement’s growing popularity.

At least 1000 civilians, mostly Islamic Movement supporters, were killed in the attacks and hundreds arrested in the attacks.

The 2015 attack is the subject of a complaint by the IHRC to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Photos are attached to this release.

For more information please call +447958607475 or +447958522196

Notes to editors:

In March 2016 IHRC petitioned the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary inquiry into the December 2015 massacre of IMN members.

Our report which we submitted to the ICC can be found here

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IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.

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