Nigerian Christians Condemn Government Move against Shia Group
Kwamkur Samuel, the head of the association, described the move as unfair, saying it there was no sufficient proof to ban the group and label it “terrorist”.
The move contradicts civil liberties in Nigeria, he said, adding that it is aimed at intimidating and pressuring the group.
Kwamkur Samuel called on the Nigerian government and authorities to resolve the current problem peacefully and through talks with the IMN and refrain from illegal measures like this in order to avoid a new crisis in the country.
The Christian Association of Nigeria condemns this move and is concerned about growing discontent among people and destabilization of security in society, he went on to say.
On Sunday, the Nigerian government banned the Shia group following a court decision allowing authorities to call it a “terrorist” organization.
The office of President Muhammadu Buhari said in a statement on Sunday that the government “had to act” against IMN before the situation got out of control.
“Proscription of Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has nothing to do with banning the larger numbers of peaceful and law-abiding Shia in the country from practicing their religion, instead it was to discourage wanton violence, murder and willful destruction of public and private property,” the presidency said in a statement.
The authorities still need to publish the court order in the state gazette and two newspapers for it to come into force.
Supporters and members of the IMN have been organizing peaceful protest rallies in the capital Abuja and elsewhere to demand the release of IMN leader and senior Shia cleric Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky.
Nigerian security forces have attacked and killed tens of protesters in recent months.
Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife have been in detention since December 2015, after his residence in the city of Zaria was raided by Nigerian forces, during which he was beaten and lost his left eye. Three of his sons and more than 300 of his followers were killed in the brutal crackdown, while his wife sustained serious wounds.
In 2016, Nigeria’s federal high court ordered Zakzaky’s unconditional release from jail following a trial, but the government has so far refused to set him free.
