Islamic Human Rights Commission
Nigeria Digest 03 November 2019 (Volume 3 Issue 32)

Take action write email to the Nigerian Embassy/High Commission in your country.

Recent reports suggest that Nigerian authorities are seeking to destroy evidence and witnesses related to atrocities committed against the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.

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

This week we ask people to write emails/letters to the Embassy/High Commission of Nigeria in your country, demanding that the Nigerian authorities release Sheikh El-Zakzaky, Mallima Zeenah and all those detained during and since the Zaria massacre of 2015 from the Islamic Movement.

Recent reports suggest that Nigerian authorities are seeking to destroy evidence and witnesses relating to government atrocities committed against supporters of the country’s Islamic Movement. The #FreeZakzaky protests continued in Nigeria and during last week Police opened fire on annual ArbaeenTrek. Read more about the weekly updates in this digest.

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: 

Please send an email to the Embassy/High Commission of Nigeria in your country. A model letter and contact details are provided below. Please forward any responses you receive to IHRC at wajahat@ihrc.org.
UK residents, please Click here to send an email to the Nigerian High Commission in London, UK. 

Model email / letter
If you are emailing, please use the following in the subject line:
Urgent – Release Sheikh El-Zakaky and Mallimah Zeenah

Your name
Your address
Date

Dear [insert the name of  Ambassador / High Commissioner],

Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife Mallimah Zeenah continue to be detained on false pretences.  I remain deeply concerned about their safety and security.

I demand the Nigerian authorities end this episode with the immediate and unconditional release of both the Sheikh and Mallima.  I am also deeply concerned that hundreds of people have been similarly detained since the Zaria massacre in 2015, and many others have been arrested and detained for taking part in protests.  These arrests and detentions appear to be persecution and I further demand all those detained are also release.

I look forward to your immediate response.  This whole case has deeply tarnished the image of Nigeria in the world at a time when it was thought that Nigeria was transforming and leaving its past behind it.

Yours sincerely,

[Your name]

Email addresses of recipients

Click on following link to find the name, address and contact details of the relevant diplomat in your country:
https://www.embassypages.com/nigeria

Selected names and email addresses of Ambassadors / High Commissioners can be found on the website page of this alert here.  Please contact us info@ihrc.org if you have trouble finding the details of your country.

ARTICLES AND RESOURCES

Daily Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 29th of Oct 2019
29 Oct 2019
Peaceful Free Zakzaky Protests continued in Abuja on 29 of October 2019 calling for the freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky whose Nigerian Government illegally detained for over 3 years. The Protest was staged along the road leading to National Human Right Commission in Abuja.

IHRC Press Release: Nigerian authorities seeking to destroy Zaria massacre evidence
24 October 2019

IHRC has received credible information from sources on the ground in Nigeria that authorities are seeking to destroy evidence and witnesses relating to government atrocities committed against supporters of the country’s Islamic Movement.

The intelligence suggests that individuals including eye-witnesses may be at risk of being targeted as the authorities seek to dispose of anything that might connect them to crimes that are currently the subject of a preliminary investigation by the International Criminal Court, foremost of which is the Zaria massacre of 2015.

Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on Tuesday 22nd of Oct.
22 October 2019
Peaceful free Zakzaky protest was organised today in Abuja on Tuesday the 22nd of October 2019 calling for the unconditional release of Sheikh Zakzaky. The demonstrators vowed to continue peaceful protests until Buhari regime release the leader, his wife and hundreds others from detention. 

IHRC Press Release: Nigerian police open fire on Arbaeen procession
18 October 2019

Police in the Nigerian capital Abuja have opened fire with live ammunition at a peaceful procession of Shia Muslims marking the annual 40th day anniversary of Ashura.

The marchers were fired on as they started the march after Friday prayers at one of the city’s main mosques.

Police are reported to have fired in the air but one participant was hit with a tear gas canister aimed directly at the procession.

Today’s police attack comes amid raised fears that the authorities in Nigeria are planning to launch a wide-scale massacre of Shia followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria during upcoming religious observances, most of which are scheduled for tomorrow.

Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on Thursday
17 October 2019
Peaceful Free Zakzaky Protests continued in Abuja calling for the freedom of Sheikh Zakzaky whose Nigerian Government illegally detained for over 3 years. Thousands staged another protest in Abuja on Thursday the 17th of October 2019.

VIDEOS

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.

Appeal to Help Recent Nigeria Massacre Victims
01 November 2018 – IHRC Weekly
The Nigerian authorities have attacked the Islamic Movement of Nigeria leaving dozens dead. They need your help now.

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.

ARCHIVE Click here to read the letter by IHRC Chair Massoud Shadjareh to the ICC regarding the preservation of Zaria massacre-evidence. published on 30 November 2017 Click here to read IHRC Press release “ICC cautioned against blaming victims in Nigeria massacre investigation”, published on 06 March 2018

—————————————————————————————— IHRC is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Islamic Human Rights Commission PO Box 598 Wembley HA9 7XH United Kingdom Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222 Email: info@ihrc.org Web: www.ihrc.org Twitter @ihrc The opinions expressed in this digest do not necessarily reflect the views of IHRC