28 Mar 2024
Saturday 5 November 2016 - 09:32
Story Code : 237755

Nigeria Shias: Crackdown smells of Wahhabism



Press TV- Shia Muslims in Nigeria say the governments bloody crackdown on the religious minority is influenced by Wahhabism, a radical ideology dominating Saudi Arabia.

Abdul Giwa, a spokesman for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), said he believesauthorities havelauncheda campaign of blood and destruction against Shias under the influence of the Wahhabi ideology.
We feel repressed, said the IMN spokesman. We have the freedom of religion. What the government should do is tolerate and understand us, he told Reuters on Friday.
The IMN stands accused of holding unlawful processions and obstruction of public highways since last December when the army launched a crackdown against the group.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] Picture taken on October 24 2015 shows Shia Muslims taking part in a rally to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of the Third Shia Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH), in the northern city of Kano.[/caption]

Last month, at least 11 people were killed and several others injured when Nigerian forces opened fire at Shia mourners commemorating Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (PBUH), the third Shia Imam.

Many IMN members say the police and armywere behind the bloodshedthat marred the Ashura processions."The police escorted the thugs," said Giwa, addinghebelieved authorities were being influenced by Wahhabism.

"We feel they are the ones who might have influenced thegovernment into this action," he said.

Musa Abubakar, adriver who witnessed the clashes in Kaduna's Tudunwada district, recalled thugs attacking the mourners.

"Young men armed with machetes came looking for IMN peoplethat day, burning houses and chasing away those who hadn'talready run away. They came to kill," he said.

"Those they caught were badly beaten," he said, adding thatdozens of men chased away outnumbered police officers.

Tensions have been running high sincethe army killed 347 IMN members in the city of Zaria. Theywere buried in mass graves after clashes in December 2015,according to a judicial inquiry.

Since then Shialeader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky has beenimprisoned at an unknown location without being charged. Hisfollowers have daubed "Free Zakzaky" on walls in Kaduna.

Blackened walls and pilesof rubble are all that is left of Zakzaky's house after it was burned down bymachete-wielding thugs.

The crisis began after Nigerian forces attacked Shias during a ceremony at a religious center in the northern city of Zaria.

The military claims that the mourners had blocked an army convoy passing through and wereattempting to assassinate the army chief of staff who was in the convoy.

London-based rights group Amnesty International published a report in April on the raids, documenting evidence showing Nigerian military forces burning people alive, razing buildings and secretly dumping victims bodies in mass graves.

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