The Al Ja’afary Shi’ite Muslim Community in Nigeria has strongly criticised the excessive pressure and restrictions imposed by security forces on its members during the recent religious festivals.
A statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer of the religious group, Abdullahi Hassan, in Kaduna on Saturday had revealed that they were still mourning the loss of four Shia lives and the injury inflicted on over 50 others.
The group had also condemned the arrest of more than a hundred innocent Shia civilians for just the month of August, calling for an end to what it called “unjust actions” and urged security forces to cease using the “IMN” label to perpetrate violence against Shias.
What They’re Saying
The statement by the Shi’ites read,
“We also strongly condemn the forceful removal of Muslim sisters’ divinely ordained dress, exposing their nakedness, and the torture of brothers and sisters in packed cells without regard for their privacy.”
The statement also emphasized how the Araba’een festival was a global celebration that was globally and peacefully observed commemorating the brutal killing of the Prophet’s grandson by Yazid in Karbala-Iraq 1,400 years ago.
It also claimed that the Shia community was renowned for its peaceful nature in Nigeria and worldwide, calling on the government and security agencies to recognize and respect Shia Muslims’ rights to practice their faith without fear of persecution.
Finally, the group urged security forces to address the real threats to national peace and security, such as Boko Haram insurgents, banditry and hunger in several parts of the country.
