Islamic Human Rights Commission
Nigeria Digest 05 October 2019 (Volume 3 Issue 31)

Arbaeen 2019 is approaching and we ask campaigners to demand the Commonwealth intervene and ensure security of peaceful protesters.

You can find all the latest actions and information, as well as background to the campaign and information, videos and audio and details on the Sheikh on the Free Zakzaky campaign page. The Nigeria Digest is a weekly summary of the campaign to #FreeZakzaky and all who are illegally detained focusing on the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

Introduction
Action Alert
Articles
Videos
Archive

INTRODUCTION

Arbaeen is a time that the Nigerian regime has often clamped down on the Islamic Movement in Nigeria and in anticipation of this we requested campaigners to demand the Commonwealth intervene and ensure the security of peaceful protesters. We are starting our campaign this week with the Commonwealth, please join by writing emails/letters. Nigerian authorities often use 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.

Please help support those injured by police brutality, and the families of those killed by the security services by donating to the IHRC Trust Nigeria Fund here.

Above all please remember all the oppressed in your dua.

#FreeZakzaky!

ACTION ALERT: 

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:
Demand Commonwealth to intervene and save innocent lives 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: Demand Commonwealth to intervene and save innocent lives in Nigeria

I am writing to you to ask for your urgent intervention to help halt the continuing persecution of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria by state authorities.  In particular; I am really concerned that there will be further crackdowns by the Nigerian army and or government on the Islamic Movement in the coming weeks as Ashra-e-Zainabiya and Arbaeen approach. Unscrupulous members of the army and government have previously used a deeply sectarian and divisive narrative to justify violent actions, including shooting at religious worshipers and or protesters on demonstrations, curtailment of religious services and various violations. In some previous instances, sectarian rhetoric from institutions linked to the government and army have incited mob attacks on Islamic movement members.
I urge your office to make known in unconditional terms that further violations against Islamic movement of Nigeria or indeed any other political or religious group will not be tolerated by your office.

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

Yours sincerely,
[Your signature if posting]
[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

Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on Wed 2nd Oct
02 October 2019

The daily protests calling for the freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky, as usual, was also staged on Wednesday the 2nd of October 2019 in Abuja. The protesters took complain to Public Complain Commission and also stressed the need to free all those arrested about 3 months ago by Police during Free Zakzaky protests.

 The number of arrested without charging them to Court is over 60 apart from 12 bodies which are not handed over to their family for proper burial.

Free Zakzaky Peaceful Protest in Abuja on 30th Sept
30 September 2019

Free Zakzaky peaceful protest in Abuja on Monday the 30th of September 2019 calling for the freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky. The Protest in line with demand for complete freedom of the Sheikh having spent more than 3 years in detention. 

His trip to India few months ago was not successful due to uncertainty in the matter the security operatives handled the situation. Their plan to kill Sheikh Zakzaky in 2015 was not successful and a new plan to achieve their aim cannot be ruled out outside Nigeria

Six times Buhari has disobeyed court orders
29 September 2019

Ibraheem El-Zakzaky On December 2, 2016, Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the federal high court in Abuja ordered the release of the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat from the custody of the Department of State Services. As of the time of that ruling, El-Zakzaky and his wife had been in DSS’ custody since December 2015 following an altercation between members of the Nigerian Army and the IMN in Zaria, Kaduna State. Click here to read the full article.

VIDEOS

Nigeria Army Attacked 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 participants of Abuja ArbaeenTrek 2018.

How Sheikh Zakzaky Responded to The Abusive Treatment
23 August 2019
Massoud Shadjareh discusses how Sheikh El-Zakzaky has responded to abusive treatment by Nigerian and Indian security forces with dignity.

An Appeal for Victims of Violence in Nigeria
Published on 27 May 2019
The Nigerian authorities have attacked the Islamic Movement of Nigeria leaving dozens dead. They need your help now. Support medical costs for those injured in police and army violence against the Islamic Movement. Support the families of those killed.

ARCHIVE