SHIITES
Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shiites, have told the Federal Government to release their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky immediately, so he can get medical attention abroad.
This comes after a Federal High Court, ordered the government to release the cleric.
The court said Zakzaky should be released within 45 days and further awarded N50million to him and his wife.
A statement by their spokesman, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, said: “We are calling on the authorities holding Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife that they must expedite action to allow them access to their doctors, lawyers and any other person they so wish to see without hindrance.
“They must also be allowed to go wherever they so wish as free people so that they can attend to their medical needs now that the court has set them free.”
Commending the court’s judgment, he stated: “The judge showed a full grasp of all the issues at stake when he said he views the whole matter as religious intolerance, where a majority Sunnah is oppressing a minority Shi’ah.
“This case pertained to the issues of liberty, freedom and human rights of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife. The landmark judgment obtained will however certainly impact on the numerous others presently ongoing as well as all other matters yet to be clarified such as the crime of mass grave that government officials disclosed earlier.”
He added: “It remains to be seen how the Nigerian government is going to react to this judgment. We are not unmindful of the penchant of this government to disregard court orders on spurious excuses. We will continue our peaceful and patient campaign until justice is done in its entirety.”
