Relocation of Sheikh Zakzaky A Sinister Plot by Gov't to Kill Him: IMN Spokesman
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Ibrahim Musa, the spokesman of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), said IMN's leader Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky and his spouse have been moved to an unknown destination, calling the relocation a sinister plot by the government to murder the Shiite cleric.
“We have reliably learnt of a sinister attempt to forcibly take Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky to an unknown destination,” Musa said on Saturday, News Diary Online website reported.
He added, “This is coming up at a time when a federal high court has ordered his release. Rather than complying with the judgment, the Directorate of State Security is out with this sinister plot aimed at keeping him perpetually and possibly harm him.”
“We wish to alert the general public and the international community about this desperate attempt by the government to scuttle the fundamental human rights of our leader, that were only affirmed by the courts a few days ago,” Musa further said.
The IMN spokesman said the federal government would be held responsible for “any untoward thing that will happen to Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife”.
The move by the Nigerian government came after the Abuja division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria in December ruled that Sheikh Zakzaky, the jailed leader of the IMN, and his wife should be released unconditionally.
The prominent cleric and his wife were taken into custody on December 14, 2015, after deadly clashes between the supporters of the IMN movement and Nigerian troops.
Nearly 350 members of the Shiite movement were killed in the clashes. The sheikh was brutally injured and his house was reportedly destroyed by the army in the incident.
After detaining Zakzaky, the Nigerian government stepped up its crackdown on the IMN. In November, nearly 100 IMN supporters were killed when Nigerian forces fired live rounds and teargas at mourners during a peaceful march ahead of the Arbaeen mourning rituals, which mark 40 days after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), the third Shiite Imam. Authorities also destroyed a number of buildings belonging to the IMN.
