PRESS RELEASE

For immediate Release
10 June 1997

REPORT ON NIGERIA EXPOSES NEW HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES AGAINST MUSLIMS

The Islamic Human Rights Commission’s latest report on Nigeria, has exposed once more the extent of atrocities being perpetrated against Muslims in Nigeria, by the Abacha regime.

In addition to the 1000 or so political detainees and prisoners, there have been reports of gang rapes by police officers, physical and sexual harassment and the destruction of mosques, schools and houses of active Muslims. The leader of the Islamic opposition in Nigeria, Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky, has been imprisoned without charge since September 1996, and the IHRC has serious concerns for his safety.

Chairman of the IHRC, Massoud Shadjareh, said:

“The situation in Nigeria is deteriorating at an alarming rate. We urge all governments concerned with the abuse of human rights that is taking place, to take punitive measures against Nigeria through international fora. More sanctions are required to make the Abacha regime see the error of its ways. All those oppressed by the Nigerian regime, whatever their background should not be forgotten by the West. We hope, that in many of the cases, it is not already too late to save the lives of political detainees and prisoners.”

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