Islamic Human Rights Commission
Nigeria Digest 15 September 2019 (Volume 3 Issue 28)

This week please take action by writing email to the commonwealth and find out more about the brutal clampdown by Nigerian forces killing over a dozen mourners in Ashura processions across 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 are continuing to ask people to keep pressure on Commonwealth by writing emails/letters, demanding justice for the victims of Assura procession attacks and release of the Sheikh and all those unjustly imprisoned.

This week the Nigerian security forces opened fire on peaceful Ashura processions and killed over a dozen mourners in a brutal clampdown. 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 Commonwealth 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:
Commonwealth’s failure to 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: Commonwealth’s failure to save innocent lives in Nigeria

Nigeria has been the subject of repeated complaints over its killings of supporters of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. Commonwealth’s silence on this issue is putting more innocent lives at risk. Recently Nigerian security forces opened fire on annual Ashura processions and killed over a dozen peaceful marchers, arrested, tortured and injured hundreds of them.

It is imperative that you apply pressure on the Nigerian authorities so that they stop killing innocent people and immediately release the unlawfully detained leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah. They have been held in illegal detention for over 3 years.  You are doubtless aware of the details of his case. I am deeply concerned about their safety and security.

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 or the African Union.
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 
Find all the articles selected this week on our website.  Here are a selected few.

Prosecute Police Officers Responsible For Killing – NHRC Demands IGP
13 September 2019 – New Nigerian Newspapers
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Thursday called on the Inspector General of Police to prosecute all operational police  officers under whose supervision the Tuesday’s peaceful procession was attacked.
Reacting to the alleged killing of some members of the Shiites while on Ashura annual mourning procession across the country, the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Tony Ojukwu, called for an in-depth investigation into the killings with a view to bringing any one involved in the dastardly act to book. Click here for more details.

Bauchi Gov Sends Condolences Over Killing Of Ashura Mourners, As 4 Martyrs Laid To Rest
13 September 2019

The Bauchi state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, has sent a delegation with his and his government’s condolences over the death of Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) in Bauchi and Azare, who were killed by the Nigerian police on Tuesday, 10th September during the solemn Ashura procession in the state. Click here for more details.

Nigerian Police attacked Ashura Processions
12 September 2019 – SR TV News
Nigerian security forces indiscriminately fired on peaceful annual Ashura processions and killed over a dozen of the followers of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky in different Nigerian cities. Click on below link to watch a short report about these brutal attacks.

#FreeZakzaky Protest in Abuja
12 September 2019
#FreeZakzaky protest staged at Garki District of FCT, Abuja. Demanding for immediate and unconditional release of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky from unlawful detention. Click here for details.

Update On #Ashura Killings in Nigeria
11 September 2019

So far now the number of Ashura mourners killed by the Nigerian Police while commemorating Ashura tragedy reached fourteen (14), while several others sustained various degrees of injuries. 

The Nigerian police, with the order of Inspector General of Police (IGP) and his Boss Buhari attacked peaceful Ashura protests in some places in Nigeria on Tuesday the 10th of September 2019. Its now clear that the crackdown on peaceful protesters is to ‘kill’ Shia Movement altogether with the order of their foreign masters. Weather they can achieve it or not only time will tell.

The number of people killed according to town is as follows:

Kaduna-                                3
Azare in Bauchi state-          3
Bauchi-                                3
Gombe-                                3
Illela-                                    1
Malumfashi Katsina state-    1

Click here for the pictures (warning graphic) of the some of the injured from affected places before taken to hospital for treatment yesterday. 

#FreeZakzaky protest in Abuja 
11 Sep 2019
#FreeZakzaky protest by followers of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky at Area 10 of Garki District, FCT Abuja. The protesters demanding justice for innocent lives killed in Ashura processions and unconditional release of Sheikh Zakzaky. Click here for details.

Police Attacked Ashura Mourners In Kaduna, Gombe, Illela, Katsina, Dutsinma Among Other Cities, Killing Scores and Arrested Many
10 September 2019
Nigerian Security Forces  teargassed and opened fire on Ashura mourning procession in several places in Nigeria killing scores and arrested many.
Click here for details and pictures (warning: graphic pictures)

IHRC – NIGERIA: Demand your Minister of Foreign Affairs intervene to stop killings on Ashura
10 September 2019
Police have opened fire on several Ashura processions.  Several people are reported to have been killed and dozens injured.  Heavy police presence is reported at other procession beginning around the country.  The presence appears to be targeting those Ashura events frequented by or organised by members of the Islamic Movement and not other Shia events marking the day of Ashura. Click here to read details of the action alert and model email/letter.

VIDEOS
Find more videos from recent weeks as well as the archives on the Free Zakzaky audio and video page.
Find a selection below.

Kaduna Ashura Procession Attacked, 10 September 2019
10 September 2019
Nigerian Police appear to be firing on Ashura procession.

Update On Sheikh Zakzaky – How He 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

Click here to read the Ihrc report Human Rights Abuses in Nigeria: September 1996 – October 1997, Addendum

Click here to read the IHRC Press Release published on 02 July 1998 “Nigerian junta should release all political prisoners regardless of their faith”

——————————————————————————————
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 email do not necessarily reflect the views of IHRC