Abdollah Idris, who is Deputy Editor at Nigeria’s Daily Trust newspaper, Told Tasnim in an interview in Tehran that he does not know about Sheikh Zakzaky’s health conditions, as the Shiite leader has not been seen since his detention.
Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky suffered injuries from 4 bullets shot by Nigeria’s army forces on December 13, 2015, when the forces raided his home. His followers have expressed concerns about his health condition, which has been deteriorating over the past months in detention.
“All we know is he was injured during the attack on his house,” noted Idris, who was visiting the Tasnim News Agency’s pavilion at the 22nd edition of the Press and News Agencies Exhibition.
Nigeria’s government claims that the Shiite cleric is sound and safe, Idris said, adding that he can’t confirm it.
Elsewhere in his comments, the journalist called Zakzaky’s detention without charge a “violation of the fundamental human rights”, saying all human rights organizations have called for his release.
Zakzaky’s detention and the attacks on Shiites in Nigeria have sparked international outcry. Human Rights Watch says at least 300 members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria were killed in the army attacks in the northern city of Zaria, Kaduna state, on December 2015.
