28 Mar 2024
Wednesday 16 December 2015 - 12:29
Story Code : 192649

Iran urges justice for perpetrators of recent Nigeria muslim killings



A senior Iranian official has called on the Nigerian government to bring to justice those involved in the militarys bloody crackdown on the Shia Muslim community in the African country.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Secretary General of the World Assembly of Islamic Awakening Ali-Akbar Velayati expressed deep regret and sorrow over theNigerian armys recent brutal attack on Shia Muslims in the country.

He addedthat people across the world still remember the killing of Muslimsby the Nigerian army during last years rallies marking the International Quds Day, stressing that thedemonstrators were only killed for supporting the Palestinian nation against Israels atrocities and occupation.

Velayati, who is also a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, further stated that the Nigerian army, provoked by the Israeli regime and backed by Wahhabi extremists, has once again attacked Muslims in the African country following the massive march of Nigerians during this years mourning rituals of Arbaeen, which marked the 40th dayafter the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussain (PBUH), the third Shia imam.

Local media said on December 12 that more than a dozen people were killed afterclashes erupted between the Nigerian army and Shia Muslims in the northern city of Zaria, Kaduna State.The military accused the Shias of attempting to assassinateLieutenant General Tukur Buratai, the chief of the Nigerian army staff.

The clashes broke out when Nigerian soldiers opened fire on the people attending a religious ceremony at Hussainiyyah Baqeeyatullah, a religious center belonging to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN).

One day later, revered Nigerian Shia cleric, Ibrahim al-Zakzaky, and his wife were arrested during a raid by the army on his residence and thebuildings connected to the Shia community in Zaria.Local sources say hundreds of people trying to protect the cleric were killed.

Last year, 25 Nigerian demonstrators were gunned down during the International Quds Day rallies in Zaria.

By Press TV

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