Nigerians Hold Int’l Quds Day without Sheikh Zakzaky

Local Editor

In Nigeria, Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria [IMN], will hold on Friday their annual Quds Day marches in 24 states of the federation without their leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky who has been in detention since December 2015.

A statement by the President of the Media Forum of the Movement, Ibrahim Musa, called on all people of conscience to join in commemorating the annual event by lending a voice to the oppressed people of Palestine and condemn the "Israeli atrocities" on them.

He said the IMN, under the leadership of Sheikh Zakzaky, had been in the forefront in observing the International Quds Day attended by both Muslims and non-Muslims on the last Friday of Ramadan for several decades now.

He added, "The Day is commemorated based on conscience and not only on religious consideration as victims of Zionism and illegal occupation of Palestine include Muslims and Christians alike".

Making a case for Sheikh Zakzakky, the statement said, "We will also like to seize this opportunity to call on the Nigerian government to immediately and unconditionally release the revered leader of the IMN, His Eminence, Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Zakzaky, who has been most active in this struggle for humanity and who in the past lost his children in the cause of this struggle for Palestinian freedom."

Sheikh Ibrahim Sheikh Zakzaky has been detained by Nigerian soldiers in the city of Zaria. Unarmed Nigerian worshipers were attacked by the army while conducting a peaceful procession.

The Nigerian army stormed three different locations across Zaria, including Sheikh Zakzaky's house and the group's main mosque which martyred at least 60 among them his sons. During the massacre, scores were injured including sheikh Zakzaky's wife.

Source: New Agencies, Edited by website team