Islamic Human Rights Commission
NIGERIA DIGEST 11 MAY 2019 (Volume 3 Issue 15)

Introduction
Action Alert
Articles
Videos
Archive

INTRODUCTION

Below please find the last week’s update on the Free Zakzaky campaign. During this week his followers marked the holy month of Ramadan with renewed calls of his immediate release and organised massive #FreeZakzaky protests in the Nigerian capital Abuja.

Click here to watch the weekly message from IHRC chair Masoud Shadjerah about our fundraising and campaigning for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. 

We request campaigners keep the pressure on the African Union by writing emails/letters, demanding the immediate release of the Sheikh and all those unjustly imprisoned. Please forward any responses you receive to us on wajahat@ihrc.org and keep the pressure up by continuing to send follow-ups. A model letter is provided below in the Action Alert.

To find out more about the Zaria massacre of 2015, read IHRC’s submission to the International Criminal Court here

To find out how you can help further, please visit the IHRC FreeZakzaky campaign page here

Free Zakzaky!

ACTION ALERT: 

1. Click here to learn the five things you can do to support the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. You can donate to support the medical expenses of those recently injured by clicking here.

2. Please send an email to the African Union and demand their intervention in this case. A model letter and contact details of the African Union 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:
African Union’s failure to act on human rights abuses in Nigeria

Your name
Your address
Date

H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat
Chair African Union Commission
PO Box 3243 Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area) W21K19,
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Dear H.E. Mousa Faki Mahamat,

Re: African Union’s failure to act on human rights abuses in Nigeria

Nigeria has been the subject of repeated complaints over its killings of supporters of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria from 2015 onwards and the arrest and prosecution of its leader Sheikh Ibrahim el-Zakzaky, his wife Zeenah and other members.

Nigerian authorities are currently trying Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife along with two other members of the Islamic Movement on trumped up charges relating to events surrounding the massacre in December 2015 by the Nigerian military of over 1000 followers of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria.  This case has only been made after the federal court ruled in late 2016 (a year after their detention) that Sheikh Zakzaky’s detention and that of his wife Zeenah was unlawful and unconstitutional and ordered the government to release them by January 16, 2017 and pay compensation. That order was never implemented and the charges were brought against the couple in 2018.

It is imperative that you apply pressure on the Nigerian authorities so that they stop killing innocent people and adhere to the High Court judgement of December 2016, and release Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife immediately.

I look forward to hearing from you,
Yours sincerely,
[Name]

African Union Contact Details:
Email: dic@africa-union.org
Postal Address: PO Box 3243 Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area) W21K19 Ababa, Ethiopia
Tel: +251 11 551 7844 

ARTICLES AND RESOURCES 

Peaceful Free Sheikh Zakzaky Protest in Abuja
08 May 2019
Peaceful Protest calling for the freedom of Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in Abuja on Thursday the 8th of April 2019. Protests continued during this week against the illegal detention of Sheikh Zakzaky, his wife and the members of the Islamic movement.

Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on 7th May ’19
07 May 2019
Another #FreeZakzaky Protests was arranged in Abuja on Tuesday 07 May 2019. Protesters demanded Buhari Govt to immediately release Sheikh Zakzaky to attend to his medical condition. A team of foreign medical experts recently concluded that the ailing Sheikh would require further proper medical attention at a well-equipped centre abroad.

Sheikh Zakzaky Instructed to Distribute Foodstuffs To Poor For Fasting
05 May 2019
The leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has distributed foodstuffs to the needy on the occasion of this year’s fasting season to help alleviate the suffering of the poor and the needy in Zaria as has been the tradition. K The food items, which included Sugar, Rice, Wheat, Sorghum and so on, were distributed as has been the practice all these years, including the years he has been in illegal detention, as instructed by him last week when a section of his family members were allowed a rare visit.

Free Zakzaky Protest in front of National Human Rights Headquarter
05 May 2019

Massive Free Zakzaky Protest in Abuja on Thursday the 2nd of May 2019. The protest which took to Ogunyi Ironsi Street Maitama, Abuja to the Headquarters of National Human Right Commission. Sheikh Zakzaky’s Counsel Femi Falana was among the people who spoke.

The renowned human rights lawyer, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the lead Counsel to the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky has praised the peaceful manner the Free Zakzaky Campaigns has continued to be, even in the face of extreme persecution and provocation by state security agents.

He made the commendation when he appeared in solidarity with the Free Zakzaky protest at the National Human Rights Commission earlier in the week.

Press Release: DON’T JEOPARDISE THE HEALTH OF OUR LEADER!
05 May 2019

In the aftermath of Zaria genocide executed on the orders of a foreign power by the Nigerian Army, about four years ago, we have been agitating for the release of our leader Sheikh Ibraheem Yaqoub Zakzaky and his wife so that they could attend to their deteriorating health condition properly. Instead of the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to accede to our demand, it stubbornly refuses.

However, last week on the orders of a Kaduna High Court a team of foreign medical doctors was allowed to examine the couple in Kaduna.

The team has concluded after examining the couple that the ailing Sheikh would require further proper medical attention at well-equipped centres abroad. In the conclusion of their preliminary assessment of the health situation of the Sheikh and his wife, they opined that both may need to be flown abroad for proper medical attention because both still suffer significant multiple health problems. Click here to read the full press release 

VIDEOS

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

Message From A Nigerian Cristian
Published on 09 September 2018
Click on the following link to listen the message from a Nigerian Cristian about Sheikh Zakzaky.

ARCHIVE

CLICK HERE to read the Statement from Nusaibah El Zakzaky: We are not the Shia Movement of Nigeria; we are the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, published on 21 December 2015

CLICK HERE to read Arzu Merali’s blog “The Unbearable Shianess of Mu’allim Ibraheem El-Zakzaky” published on 21 December 2017.

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

Islamic Human Rights Commission
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HA9 7XH
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Telephone (+44) 20 8904 4222
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Twitter @ihrc

The opinions expressed in this email do not necessarily reflect the views of IHRC