11-23-2017, 09:37 AM
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ites, on Wednesday sought the intervention of the international community over the continued detention of the leader of the sect, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, wife and other members of the group by the Federal Government.
The IMN urged the United Nations, European Union, the Economic Community of West African States, as well as the International Criminal Courts to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure fair treatment for Shi’ites.
Addressing a news conference in Kaduna, the Chairman, Free Zakzaky Campaign Committee, Sheikh Abdulhamid Bello, also demanded the release of the corpses of 347 its members buried in a mass grave during its clash with the Nigerian Army in December 2015.
Bello said IMN still demanded an open, independent and impartial inquiry to unearth the truth, from the incident in Zaria in December 2015.
According to him, such an inquiry must have as members, persons with credible character, and there must be full participation of internationally-accepted human rights groups as observers.
He added that all those found to be responsible either in the planning or execution of the attacks on the group members must be brought to book, irrespective of their status.
He said, “Our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, his wife and hundreds of our members were detained and our properties including residences, schools and Islamic centres demolished.
“The worst of all is that the persecution is ongoing, with no sign of abating at all. It appears as if it is the major project of the government of Muhammadu Buhari. Our leader remains in detention without charges, virtually incommunicado for two years, one year after a Federal High Court declared his detention as unconstitutional, a breach of his rights and freedom; and therefore ordered his unconditional release.
“Indeed, the continuous detention of Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky for almost two years without charges is a sour point in the human rights rating of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.”
He added, “We call on the international community, especially the UN, EU, AU, ECOWAS and the ICC to add more pressure on the government to live up to its responsibilities as regards the issue of the Islamic Movement in general and Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky in particular or be prepared to be ostracised and convicted.”http://punchng.com/el-zakzaky-shiites-se...ervention/