Muslims have held demonstrations in several cities in northern Nigeria to protestthe recent killings of Shias by the country'sarmed forces.
People took to the streets in the cities of Kano, Katsina and Sokoto on Thursday to both express outrage at the atrocity and mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
The protesters called for the release of prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzakyand other prisoners recently jailed during the armys deadly crackdown on Muslims.
Abdulhamid Bello, who led the rallyin Kano, saidthe protesters mourn the deaths of as many as 1,000 Shias killed by the army in Zaria from December 12 to 14.
He read a statement, saying the marchers mourn the killings and the detention of their leader andthat justice must be served.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="550"]
Shia Muslims take part in a march to call for the release of the leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim Zakzaky, in Kano on December 24, 2015.[/caption]The tragedy came afterNigerian soldiers opened fire on the people attending a religious ceremony in Zariaon Dec. 12.
One day later, Zakzakyand his wife were arrested during a raid by the army on his residence and thebuildings connected to the Shia community in the city. Local sources said hundreds of people trying to protect the cleric were killed.
The Nigerian army has accused the cleric's supporters of trying to assassinate a military officer when they blocked a road in Zaria fora religious procession. Zakzay'sIslamic Movement in Nigeria has vehemently dismissed the allegation.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has expressed disbelief at the armys explanation for the three-day-long massacre.
It is almost impossible to see how a roadblock could justify the killings of hundreds of people," the groups Africa directorDaniel Bekele hassaid.
At best it was a brutal overreaction and at worst it was a planned attack on the minority Shia group, he added.
By Press TV
