IHRC’s Free Zakzaky campaign asks campaigners to please send an email to the Commonwealth and demand its intervention to stop further attacks on the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. A model email and contact details of the Commonwealth are provided below. Please forward any responses you receive to IHRC at wajahat@ihrc.org

Background
Requested Action
Model email
Recipient Addresses

Background
Police have opened fire on several Ashura processions in past few years and several people are reported to have been killed and dozens injured. In most recent attacks on 22 and 30 August 2020 at least six worshipers were killed and dozens injured in Kaduna. We note that start of the Islamic year is a time that the Nigerian regime has often clamped down on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, often using a sectarian narrative to justify their actions. In anticipation of this please also circulate Nusaibah El-Zakzaky’s letter on the Islamic Movement as widely as you can. For more information on the campaign please visit this page. Video of shootings at the Kaduna procession 2019, can be found at the end of the page (trigger warning).

Requested Action
IHRC are calling upon campaigners to send an email to the Commonwealth and demand its intervention to stop possible attacks on the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. 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
If you are emailing, please use the following in the subject line:
Demand immediate action to stop further attacks on the Islamic Movement of Nigeria

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

Re: Demand immediate action to stop further attacks on the Islamic Movement of Nigeria

Dear Baroness Scotland QC,

Nigerian Police once again opened fire on the Ashura processions during this week, which resulted in three deaths and many seriously injured. Nigerian security forces have been extremely violent against Muslims commemorating Ashura in Nigeria, they have already killed dozens of peaceful worshipers brutally and has injured many.

I am concerned that there will be further crackdowns by the Nigerian army against the Islamic Movement in the coming weeks. As you are well aware the ruthless members of the military and government have previously used a deeply sectarian narrative to justify their violent actions against the Islamic Movement, including shooting at religious worshipers, curtailment of religious services and various other heinous violations. In some instances, sectarian rhetoric fanning out from institutions linked to the government and army have incited mob attacks on Islamic Movement members.

I urge your office to unequivocally declare that the Commonwealth will not tolerate further violations against the Islamic Movement of Nigeria or indeed any other political or religious group.

I look forward to your speedy response outlining the actions your office will be taking.

[Your name]

Recipient Addresses
Email: info@commonwealth.int
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7747 6500
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7930 0827

Note: Due to the COVID19 outbreak, we do not advise sending letters by post