₦airaland Forum

Don’t protest in Abuja, Police warn Shiite IMN members

December 14, 2016 Evelyn Okakwu

The police have warned the Shiite Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, not to embark on any protest in the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command said it had been informed of a planned protest by the IMN.

The police warned the group to desist from embarking on any protest.

“The attention of the FCT Police Command has been drawn to the plan by members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria to carry out mass protest at the Three Arms Zone, Abuja on Wednesday, 14th, December, 2016.

“The Command wants to state unequivocally that the action of the group is illegal as they have neither written to notify the Command of their planned action nor have they secured any approval from the Commissioner of Police go on with the planned protest.

“It is sequel to the above that FCT Police Command is warning members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria to immediately stay action on their planned protest or be prepared to be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate sections of the law,” said the statement which was signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Manzah Anjuguri.

Despite court orders rulings that have shown that Nigerians do not need a police permit to embark on protest, the police have always insisted on such especially for protests considered unfavourable to the government in power.

In a reaction to the police statement, a leader of the IMN said the group has no immediate plans to embark on such protest.

The Secretary General of the Academic Forum of the IMN, Abdullahi Musa, who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES on the matter, said his members have not protested since a court ruling ordering the release of the Shiite leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky.

“We took the case to court. And the court ruled in our favour and said that they should release our leader in 45 days. What sense will it make if we start protesting before that time. We have not protested and we will not protest till the 45 days elapses; if he is not released,” Mr. Musa said.

“Although I heard that a group protested yesterday, but I am telling you that we, the Shiite members whom I speak for, have not protested and will not protest now,” he said.

An Abuja Division of the Federal High Court had on December 2 ordered the release of Mr. El-Zakzaky.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered the Nigerian government to release the cleric within 45 days, from December 2.

Mr. El-Zakzaky has been detained without trial since December last year after over 300 members of the IMN were killed by soldiers in controversial circumstances in Kaduna.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/217908-dont-protest-abuja-police-warn-shiite-imn-members.html

Seun Lalasticlala

Hell broke loose when Trump wanted to start a registry for Muslims in the USA. imagine if a Shiite police chief says Sunnis should be monitored seriously because of Boko Haram.

if this man would have said monitor IMN members seriously, one would say his problem is with the group and not Shiites as a whole. what of Shiites that do not associate with activities of the IMN? this police chief making such a statement will only prove right all those who have been saying this crackdown is all about religious persecution from day one. officials should mind their utterances since there is freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of religion in the constitution. you cannot use the word "Shiite" freely or in a blanket manner because it represents a worldwide religious body.

FriendChoice:
Yeah it's true they don't follow strictly Muhammad (SAW). Ask me if you want to know more. Ask shia if you want lies. Why? Lies called Taqiya is permissible in Shia religion.
The media is really feeding people with lairs. in 2015 only Executed at Least 977 Sunni And in month of August only 20 sunni were executed on false claim of terror reported by amnesty international. The total number of Sunni executed by Iran this year will be known when the year elapse.
https://www.nairaland.com/3269015/iran-hanged-up-20-sunni

when GEJ was fighting against boko haram terrorists you people saw it as GEJ killing (Sunni) Muslims. when a Sunni is in power, do you see the war on boko haram as a fight against Sunnis? do you still claim persecution? no. in Iran, alqaeda terrorists, under the local trademark of jundullah insurgents are active in the two majorly Sunni southeast provinces near afghanistan and pakistan. when the terrorists are killed, you shout persecution.

Zakzaky: Shiites write Saraki, seek Senate intervention

By Ismail Mudashir | Publish Date: Dec 12 2016 5:14PM

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has written the Senate President, Bukola Saraki over a statement credited to the Senate, tagged “Shiites: Senate vows to protect Nigeria’s sovereignty".




In the letter received at the Senate on 9th, this month, the sect said the remark was made by some Senators during a protest at the National Assembly by the Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative and other civil society organisations.

The sect in the letter signed by Sheikh Abdulhameed Bello expressed disappointment that the National Assembly has not voice its concern on the serial violations of their rights as citizens .

"If someone is so passionate about “good governance”, what have they done since the flagrant abuse of rights through serial extra-judicial murder of citizens that has characterized the present administration?

"We believe that if distinguished senators and honourable members of the National Assembly don’t come out openly to demand for the release of our leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who has been in illegal detention for almost a year now, it will amount to tacit complicity. The Senate must raise its voice to also demand that the perpetrators of Zaria massacre be brought to justice, irrespective of their status or rank, "he said.

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/zakzaky-shiites-write-saraki-seek-senate-intervention/175673.html#dFxF6bIXzjxceJC8.99

CC Seun Lalasticlala

NBA tasks FG on obeying court orders, demands El-Zakzaky’s release

Dec 12, 2016

https://i0.wp.com/thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/CwLHZTdXYAA70Wc.jpg?resize=560%2C320
Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, OON,SAN

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has tasked the Federal Government to always obey court orders. It also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, his wife and other detainees.

NBA said the apparent disobedience to court orders was a sad commentary on the readiness of Federal Government agencies to comply with the principles of rule of law and respect for human rights.

Addressing the press during the weekend in Lagos at the commemoration of the International Human Rights Day, the NBA’s President, Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN), said the association was deeply concerned about the continued disobedience of court orders by the Federal Government.

His words: “This disobedience is not only unacceptable to the NBA, it is antithetical to the principles of rule of law and due process. The NBA is deeply worried about the huge loss of lives and property as a result of insurgency, armed robbery, kidnapping, militancy, extra judicial executions and other rights violations.
“On October 31, 2016 I inaugurated the NBA North East and Niger Delta taskforces in fulfillment of my promise to the Bar and the Nigerian people to address the humanitarian issues in the two regions as a result of insurgent and militant activities. The work of the taskforce will begin to come to limelight early next year.”

On the report by Amnesty International (AI) concerning the killing of unarmed members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South East, Mahmoud said the association would set up a committee to probe the claim.

He also called on the members and leadership of the IMN to stop using allegedly inciting language that is capable of fomenting civil unrest and precipitating religious crisis in Nigeria.

“Nigeria is a nation governed by law and constitutional democracy.
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http://thenigerialawyer.com/nba-tasks-fg-on-obeying-court-orders-demands-el-zakzakys-release/

CC Seun Lalasticlala

FriendChoice:
He has not declare it a Sunni exclusive region neither he cried for Trump asking Muslims out of America.

buffoon, i was referring to you.

FriendChoice:
Christians you hear speak for your fellow brothers (Shiite).
Plus complete the plan for them to relocate to south. You Christians are peaceful and accommodating. As you promised months ago that Shiites can stay in your land to avoid any victimization from Muslim in the north.
Zazzaki and your co declared insurgent group, carry ur self migrate 2 south and practice ur evil. Go and have your street blocking and street tracking.

he has already declared the north a muslim exclusive zone and Islam a Sunni exclusive religion; even disregarding the fact that Shiites are his fellow Muslims. yet, this buffoon will cry foul when Trump asked his likes to pack their bundles and leave America.

Press Statement
John Kirby
Assistant Secretary and Department Spokesperson, Bureau of Public Affairs
Washington, DC
December 8, 2016

On December 5th, the Kaduna State Government in Nigeria issued a long-awaited White Paper on clashes last year that resulted in the deaths of a reported 348 civilians and one soldier. We fully agree with the White Paper’s recommendation that members of the military who were involved in the unlawful killing of civilians must be held accountable and punished appropriately. As the one-year anniversary of this tragic event approaches, we call on the federal government to be diligent, transparent, and expeditious in following through on this recommendation.

We are concerned by the White Paper’s characterization of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as an “insurgent group,” and urge the Nigerian government at every level to seek pathways for non-violent engagement with all citizens, including minority religious groups. We also encourage the federal government to act on the Abuja high court’s decision on December 2 that IMN leader Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife should be released from prison within 45 days, as they have been held without charge since the events of last December.

We note reports that the IMN has taken actions that have undermined public order and safety. We call on the IMN to respect public order and cooperate with law enforcement authorities as they carry out their lawful duties.

Respect for the rule of law and the civil rights of all segments of society is a hallmark of democracy. As the White Paper notes, “the right to freedom of worship is a cherished constitutional right” in Nigeria that must be protected. We encourage the people and the government of Nigeria to support these fundamental principles, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or region.

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2016/12/264991.htm

limeta:
Why not the ipob leader

that one na christian terrorist

FriendChoice:
Never Drag Dariqa into your stupidd act of infidelism. You're desperately looking for sympathy. No Muslims whether Dariqa, Tijjaniyya or Izala will join the Kafirun that don't believe the authenticity of the Holy Qur'an. No Muslim will join those who created two new chapters in our Qur'an.

no matter what Shia Muslims believe or do not believe does not give you the right to kill them for being "disbelievers" as you see them based on Wahhabism. freedom of religion is a human right. you can only take it away when you have an islamic state built on the foundation of the Wahhabi ideology. no one cares what Shia believe or do not believe. it is none of our concern. Christians believe the Quran is not from God and Muhammad was an impostor. does that give you right to kill them, ban them and attack them? who gave you the right to declare who is a true Muslim and who is not? what right do you have to impose your own view as the "pure Islam". who gave you right of monopoly on an entire religion? do your own worship and let others do theirs in peace.

ourleader:
wake up young man & stop supporting evil doers such as IMN & co

What evil did they commit? Dem kill anyone? No be evil Fulani herdsmen the midget is paying money to stop killing? If IMN no kill anyone, how dem come take become evil?

El Rufai is pushing them into insurgency. He's responsible for any evil that results.

johnjose68:
Shot up...Is that not how Boko Haram started. Somebody declared them as insurgent and you dey complain...should he wait till they begin massacre people in hundreds before steps are taken.

Motherfvcker why doesn't the midget declare Sunni Wahhabi Izala aka JIBWIS an insurgent group? Look at their name. It sounds very threatening (jama'atu izalatul bida wa iqamat al Sunnah). It means "congress for the elimination of sinful practices and upholding the Sunnah".

is declaring a group or outlawing it not a function of the central government? first El-Rufai banned them and the people still come out en masse to protest peacefully. now he calls them "insurgents". next, El Rufai will label them a "terrorist organization" without them carrying out a terrorist act. let's be watching.

El-Zakzaky: Judiciary must save Nigerians from tyranny, says Fayose

On December 2, 20166:47 pm

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has hailed the Federal High Court, Abuja judgement, ordering the release of the leader of the Shi’ite Muslim sect, Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife, as well as payment of payment of N50 million damages awarded against the Department of State Service (DSS).

The governor, who had called for the release of El-Zakzaky two weeks ago, however said he won’t be surprised if the federal government does not obey the judgment, adding that; “The judgement will be for posterity even if in their usual style of impunity, those holding power in Abuja ignore the judgment.”

He called on men of the judiciary to save democracy in Nigeria as well as Nigerians from tyranny by being courageous and firm even in the face of intimidation, harassment, blackmail and character assassination by those whose desire is to muscle opposition and turn Nigeria to as one party state.

In a statement issued on Friday, by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose reiterated his earlier call on the International Criminal Court (ICC), Amnesty International and other world bodies to investigate extra judicial killings in the country in the last 15 months, especially the murder of over 300 Shi’ite Muslims in Zaria and killing of over 150 Biafra activists.

He said under international human rights law governing the use of firearms during policing operations, the intentional use of lethal force is only permitted when strictly unavoidable, to protect life. Governor Fayose noted that the detention since last year December, of El-Sakzaky, after the murder of over 300 of his followers was inhuman and wicked, saying; “the DSS claim that El-Sakzaky was being detained to protect him is not only laughable but barbaric. How can you keep someone in detention for 12 months and claim that you are protecting him? Against what?”

The governor, who described the APC led federal government as law breaker, noted that “the kind of impunity against the law of Nigeria being witnessed now has never happened before. Even the military still obeyed court judgements but here we are with a democratically elected government that holds our constitution with contempt.”

“I congratulate Justice Gabriel Kolawole and the entire judiciary for once against giving Nigerians hope that democracy can still survive and rule of law can still be sustained.

“The judiciary must remain steadfast in its uphold of the rule of law, so as to save Nigerians who are now being held by the jugular by those who do not want anyone that is not in the same political camp with them to exist,” he said.

Read more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/12/el-zakzaky-judiciary-must-save-nigerians-tyranny-says-fayose/

CC SEUN LALASTICLALA

IPOB123london:
see monkey or baboon writing rubbish as a typical man spec from mother africa; do you know that hundreds of Biafran protesters with no arm just by merely walking in the street that have been shot before the coming of Kanu as an IPOB leader.
Kanu said we need guns and bullet to protect ourselves because we know they are coming to kill us; now question number one goes to the AFONJAS representative; do you think he is wrong It is so easy for some of yall leeches to come to social net to write rubbish that u totally lack the capacity to use your brain to reason logically as a human being
now that can only makes you a baboon or a monkey as u cannot be both. Mad people working so hard to live with us when we do not need them.
By the way the gworo in Aso rock knows his limit by now. Some how the afonjas do not give a toss about our people gunned down by the murderous Buharia foot soldiers
wicked and backward afonjas

I was replying someone who claims "Shiites are known for inciting violence". that is the monkey and baboon you should refer to.

thank God you have exposed yourself with your own words. Kanu is calling his followers to arms and calling for the division of the country which violates sovereignty. i.e. to fight the state. you call that "self defense".

and you have Zakzaky who has renounced or denounced violence (even after his sons and followers were shot in 2014 under GEJ) in his speeches (found on YouTube) to his followers and called violence "the weapon of the foolhardy". he insists on his preaching and nonviolence.

so among the two who incites violence?



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysGoWg0oxU4


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teYK9wpU12Y


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNyoTXR-4bo

kizyalex10:
Shiite known for inciting violence,the court released their leader while nnamdi kalu whose demonstrates peacefully,is denied bail.the biafrans,re fighting a jst course peacefully.hausa nd fulani's re shouting one Nigeria because they knw they dont have oil which is the major revenue Nigeria has.believe me,if oil is found in d north today or they re the one with this oil,nigeria would have long be history.let them continue,nnamdi kalu's case will make or marr dis country.i rest my case

You must be drunk. Zakzaky has never insulted Nigeria. He has never stated he wants to divide the country. He many times dresses in kaftan with Nigerian green white and green colors.

Kanu incited violence and wanted to "bring down the zoo". He threatened bloodshed. I've not heard where Shiites incited bloodshed. They only block roads and want to be permitted for their huge processions. And they don't throw security men over the Niger bridge.

Dasuki is a northerner and refused bail. Kanu is southerner and refused bail. The govt will choose whether to release Zakzaky or not. Stop comparing apples to oranges.

ganye1:
To set the records straight during GEJ the army attacked them and a number of them were killed, including El-Zakzaky's three children.

And Jonathan personally telephoned Zakzaky to apologize for the incident and Zakzaky rejected the apology. El rufai went online to celebrate that Zakzaky rejected Jonathan's sorry. See below captions. Jonathan did not justify the incident in 2014 that happened because of road blockage.

Nigerian Shi'ites massacre: investigation still on-going, ICC says

By Nuruddeen M. Abdallah, The Hague | Publish Date: Nov 23 2016 11:52AM

The International Criminal Court ( ICC) is still analysing the Zaria massacre incident in which over 300 Shiites were killed after clash with Nigerian soldiers, the court prosecutor has said.

The report, however, said there won't be further actions by the court on the alleged soldiers' killings of pro-Biafran protesters, killings by violent herders, and military offensive against Niger Delta Avengers.

The Human Rights Watch report said over 300 civilians were killed and buried in mass graves in the December 2015 confrontation between Shia Muslims and Nigerian soldiers.

The court's position was made known in a report released Tuesday at the ongoing 15th session of the Assembly of States Parties (ASP15) at The Hague, Netherlands.

The ICC prosecutor has a mandate to begin preliminary examination on any war crimes and crimes against humanity in ICC member countries.

On the pro-Biafran protesters killings, the court however said "it didn't find reasonable basis to believe that" the alleged military killings of pro-Biafran protesters, in Anambra State December last year 2015 and that of the Niger Delta Avengers in last May "falls within the jurisdiction of the ICC."

The report entitled: Report of Preliminary Examination Activities 2016, by the Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC, said it has identified eight potential cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity by Boko Haram insurgents and Nigerian security forces.

Other cases the ICC said it wouldn't consider until it receives "additional information" are those of killings by violent herders in north-central and southeast, and the violence in 2015 general elections.

"Apart from the conflict with Boko Haram, Nigerian security forces were reportedly involved in other security operations, including clashes with pro-Biafran protesters in December 2015 in Onitsha, Anambra State and with members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in Zaria, Kaduna State the same month.

"Furthermore, violent incidents between militants linked to Fulani herdsmen and farmers throughout reporting period in Nigeria's north-central zone have led to the death of civilians. In Nigeria's Niger Delta, militant groups such as the Niger Delta Avengers have resumed attacks on oil installations, triggering a security response by the Nigerian security forces," the ICC report said.

"During the reporting period, the Office has also examined allegations of crimes committed in the situation in Nigeria unrelated to the conflict between Boko Haram and the Nigerian security forces.

"This includes allegations of crimes committed by the Nigerian security forces against pro-Biafra protesters in December 2015 and against the Niger Delta Avengers since mid-2016.

"In addition, the Office assessed communications related to alleged crimes committed by militants linked to the Fulani herdsmen since 2014.

"The Office has furthermore examined communications relating to the Presidential and National Assembly elections in March 2015 and the State Elections in April 2015."

However, the report concluded that "following a thorough factual and legal analysis of the available information, the Office did not find a reasonable basis to believe that the crimes alleged ...would fall within the jurisdiction of the court."

On the Shiites case, the report said "the office's analysis on the events occured in Zaria, Kaduna State in December 2015 is still on-going."

Read more at http://www.dailytrust.com.ng/news/general/nigerian-shi-ites-massacre-investigation-still-on-going-icc-says/172928.html#ukEe4ESDOq2oX8ec.99

CC: Seun Lalasticlala

Stalwert:
[s][/s]
Responding with multiple ids goes to show the falsehood you peddle. Mister all Nigerians including people who do outdoor advertising like road shows take permit from the police so as to maintain public order even Iran the country you blindly murdered its citizens for less offense and won't tolerate lawlessness that the largely illiterate followers of zazzaky act out in public.


We should note this is a supposedly literate follower of zazzaky making a case for disobeying the law what. will the illiterates amongst them say?

Ok. So keep supporting them being shot. And excuse yourself that Iran or Nicaragua do the same thing to its citizens.

**** When your fellow Sunnis block roads for Friday prayer, you don't judge that as breakdown of law and order.

Stalwert:
[s][/s]
shut up and apply for permit even Iran doesn't allow public gathering without permission. All your lies about intolerance just have no grounds in any sensible discussion. ... follow the due process of the law if the police refuse you are expected to approach the courts not take the laws into your hands.
Unfortunately illiteracy has prevented the bulk of the members of imn to discern they are breaking the law hence their resort to acting violently.

Will the courts be obeyed? Didn't the presidency give reasons for not obeying court orders?

When the Zaria massacre took place, where were the courts? Does embarking on procession without permit justify shooting and killing and mass grave? What of demolition of properties including a registered school?

Does the constitution guaranty the right of the citizens freedom to assemble even without police permit?

Please answer with the facts. Not sentiments. Let's see who is right and who is really wrong or infringing upon the rights of others.

Naijacitizen:
Most Christians don't understand about those Shiite that is why they throw their support to them. May be, they share something in common.

Angelic Sunni trying to justify killing of innocent civilians. You should tell us what you understand. Christians identify with their sufferings because they have suffered similar treatment from your own kind. Do you have anything to talk about the Shia other than your sectarian bias and hatred? I really want to know. Who have they killed? Don't they have right to exist and practice freely? Is it only in Nigeria that Shia Muslims are found? The same story all around the world. You persecute your fellow Muslims. It is a story of bullying because they happen to be minority. And your majority status is NOT built on conviction and the beauty of your beliefs. It is based on the sword that even your own ancestors tasted before you can claim yourself Sunni today.

FriendChoice:
You sound frustrated
Taqiyya is Shi'atic Not Islamic
So stop associating yourself with Islam
Taqiya (Lies found in the Qur'an). Which Qur'an? Only in your new Quran that has addition of Two Chapters.
I taught this Qur'an has been concocted and interpolated by cursed Uthman (R.D). Your Imam mahadi have the preserved copy I guess.
I pray you will see the truth, because Shiasim is not Islam. Call it Shi'a Religion not Islam. Weda IMN or any Shi'a group are Unbelievers and they are never our brothers in Islam. The peaceful ones among them can be brothers in humanity but not in Islam.
Those who curse any companions of the prophet, his wives, indirectly insulting the prophet (SAW) himself, those that do not believe in our Qur'an have nothing to do with us

Wahhabi spotted!

Trademarks: lies, Takfirism, moronism, extremism, violence and terror.

kingwax7007:
Substandard abi?

So, if I fire that sniper rifle at u, u fit use hand stop the bullet? Yeye boy..

Did u even knw that, no one does war weapons better than the Asians? We fit buy from Asia, we fit buy from Israel sef.. E no concern u...

USA na copy copy...

didn't the USA stop Israel selling weapons to Nigeria under Jonathan? Israel is USA baby boy.

there is a world order taking shape. you better open your eyes and see that. the Asians are either allied west or east.

Russia is allied with Shia Muslim powers in the Middle East.namely: Iran, Syria and Lebanese Shia Islamic resistance movement, hezbollah. Russia is fighting with them side by side in Syria to support Assad against Saudi backed Wahhabi terrorists.

If Russia is approached by this government, after the treatment Nigerian Shia Muslims have received, I see Iran pressuring Russia not to sell weapons. And the coming days don't look good for America's Sunni allies in the Middle East under a Trump presidency. Trump has already sent heated messages to Saudi Arabia and assurance to Syrian president Assad.

First high ranking government official to speak out. Fayose is courageous.

Everyone else is mute; former heads of state and presidents, governors, senate presidents, speakers, ministers etc.

Yemen Rebels Deny Their Missile Targeted Holy City of Mecca

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSOCT. 28, 2016, 9:37 A.M. E.D.T.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen's Shiite rebels and their allies fired a ballistic missile deep into Saudi Arabia, an overnight strike that they said on Friday had targeted an international airport while the kingdom claimed that it flew toward the holy Muslim city of Mecca.

Saudi Arabia said the missile was "intercepted and destroyed" 65 kilometers (40 miles) from Mecca, which is home to the cube-shaped Kaaba that the world's Muslims pray toward five times a day.

Angry Saudis soon denounced the missile fire online with hashtags questioning the faith of Yemen's Shiite rebels known as Houthis, as other Sunni Arab leaders in the Gulf linked the attack to Shiite power Iran.

Invoking Mecca also invigorated support for Saudi Arabia as it leads the stalemated war in the Arab world's poorest country, as well as turned attention away from those starving under a kingdom-led blockade and the civilians killed in its airstrikes.

The Saudi military said the missile, fired Thursday night from Yemen's northwestern Saada province, which borders the kingdom, caused no damage. The Saudi military has a supply of U.S.-made, surface-to-air Patriot missile batteries it previously has fired at Houthi-launched missiles.

The kingdom's military said in a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency that it immediately targeted the area where the missile was launched in airstrikes.

Washington condemned the attack and called for a cease-fire that would enable all sides in the Yemen conflict to work toward "concluding a comprehensive political agreement that ends the war."

"These types of attacks are unacceptable," said U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner. "There is no military solution to this conflict and (we) urge all sides to exercise restraint and immediately and publicly agree to an unconditional cessation of hostilities."

The Houthis and their allies, including forces loyal to former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, have a stockpile of Soviet-era Scud missiles and locally designed variants. A Houthi ballistic missile fired earlier this month targeted Taif, home to Saudi Arabia's King Fahd Air Base, which also is near Mecca.

What the missile fired Thursday night targeted, however, quickly became a controversy.

The Houthi-controlled satellite news channel Al-Masirah said the Yemeni rebels had fired a Volcano-1 variant missile at Jiddah's King Abdulaziz International Airport, without mentioning Mecca. That airport is 75 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Mecca.

The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency said the missile "directly hit" the airport and caused massive destruction, though there were no delays or diversions affecting the airport Friday.

The Saudi military stressed the missile was fired "toward" Mecca, without elaborating — the protection of the holy city is a key pillar of the Saudi royal family's prestige and the country's national identity.

Gulf Arab countries allied with Saudi Arabia immediately began condemning the attack, suggesting the Houthis intentionally targeted the Islamic world's holiest site. Many also immediately linked the attack to Iran, further inflaming regional sectarianism.

"The Iranian regime supports a terrorist group that launched its rockets on Mecca," Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nayhan wrote on Twitter. "Is this regime Islamic as it claims?"

While analysts suggest Tehran doesn't have direct control over the Houthis, the U.S. Navy says it is has intercepted Iranian arms heading to the rebels.

In Iran, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi dismissed the claims that the Houthis targeted Mecca as "ridiculous."

"We advise officials of the (United Arab) Emirates and Saudi Arabia not to use Islamic holy sites for their mean political intentions and not to resort to this sort of hypocritical, rift-making and dangerous hyperbole," Ghasemi was quoted on Friday as saying by Iran's semi-official ISNA news agency.

Yemen, on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has been in the midst of a civil war since September 2014 when the Houthis swept into the capital of Sanaa and overthrew the country's internationally recognized government. In March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of Arab countries began a military campaign against the Houthi forces, saying its mission served in part as a counterbalance to Iran's influence following its nuclear deal with world powers.

The Saudi-led campaign initially had the logistical and intelligence support of the U.S., but mounting civilian casualties from its airstrikes led to America pulling back, especially after a Saudi strike earlier this month on a funeral in Sanaa killed some 140 people and wounded over 600.

The U.S. also fired Tomahawk missiles at mobile Houthi radar sites after reporting its warships came under fire in the Red Sea near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb strait. In recent days, two commercial ships reportedly have come under fire in the same area.

United Nations efforts to strike a peace deal to end the conflict have been slow. The most recent plan apparently sidelines President Abed-Rabbo Mansour Hadi of Yemen's internationally recognized government. Saudi Arabia launched its coalition campaign to restore Hadi's rule, so that's likely a deal breaker for the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

In the meantime, Yemen stands on the brink of famine. More than 10,000 people have been killed or wounded and 3 million of the country's 26 million people have been driven from their homes by the fighting.

___

Associated Press writers Maggie Michael in Cairo, Matthew Lee in Washington and Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2016/10/27/world/middleeast/ap-ml-yemen.html?_r=0

EDITORIAL: Nigeria Must Not Transform The Shiites Into Enemies

October 21, 2016 Premium Times

https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2016/04/800x450xShiite-1.jpg.pagespeed.ic_.GgCpsengrQ.jpg?w=800

Nigeria is a multi-religious country in which the two main faiths, Christianity and Islam, are sub-divided into numerous sects and groups, not all of which accept each other. Our Constitution protects all of them by guaranteeing religious freedom. Any attempt to deprive any religious group of the freedom to practice its religion runs the risk of provoking a major conflict with that group.

It is in this context that PREMIUM TIMES wishes to call attention to the dangers associated with the widespread attacks on Shiites, a Muslim religious movement, in various parts of Northern Nigeria. The attacks are directed at members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Nigeria’s foremost Shi’a group.

It would be recalled that the Kaduna State Government recently issued a legal notice in relation to the Commission of Inquiry Report on the “Clash Between the Nigerian Army and the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN)”. The Order, which came into operation on October 7, 2016 declares that: “the Society that bears the name, style, guise or nomenclature of the “Islamic Movement in Nigeria”, is hereby declared an Unlawful Society in Kaduna State.”

The justifications for the order, according to the Kaduna Government, are the imperative for the promotion and protection of public safety, public order, public morality or public health; and/or the rights and freedom of all persons in Kaduna State.

The Order is anchored on the findings of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the clashes between the group with the appellation “Islamic Movement in Nigeria’’ (IMN) and the Nigerian Army in Zaria between December 12 and 14 2015. The findings, the government says, draw attention to acts, which if allowed to go unchecked will constitute danger to the peace, tranquillity, harmonious co-existence and good governance of Kaduna State.

The Commission itself was very problematic because although one party, the Nigerian Army, participated with a huge array of lawyers, the other party to the confrontation, the IMN, neither sent memoranda nor appeared before it. They stayed away because they had lost hundreds of their people who were killed by soldiers, with many more arrested and jailed, while their leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife, had been in detention with the SSS since December last year. They also pointed out that some members of the Commission of Inquiry had been on record proposing that Muslims should kill members of the Shi’a religious group. It was therefore not surprising that they boycotted the Inquiry. As such, the fact of the matter is that the Commission heard only one side of the story.

Nonetheless, the Commission of Inquiry was categorical in its findings that the Nigerian Army was wrong in “shooting its way” through the blockade set by the IMN that led to the initial killing of seven members of the IMN. The Commission also found that the claim by the Army that the IMN had a large stockpile of dangerous weapons was false as they could only produce one locally made pistol and some catapults, knives, swords and bows and arrows as evidence of the purported “large arsenal” of arms. The Commission therefore concluded that the use of lethal force by the Nigerian Army leading to the massacre of 347 members of the movement was wrong, illegal and punishable. The Commission subsequently recommended that steps should immediately be taken to identify members of the Nigerian Army who acted contrary to their Rules of Engagement and professional ethics and participated in the killings of the IMN members and other citizens between December 12 and 14, 2015, with a view to bringing them to justice by prosecuting them.

Rather than punishing the Nigerian Army for its crimes, what we have witnessed so far is the proscription of the movement. Many of the members have also been attacked and killed since the proscription order.

The Nigerian media were awash with reports of attacks and killings on Wednesday, October 12. Early that morning, four members of the Shi’a sect were reportedly killed in the Tudun Wada area of Kaduna South Local Government Area, when some irate youth attacked them, burning down the residence of the group’s leader in Kaduna and demolishing the Shiite’s Islamic school in the area. The police in Sokoto have also reported that hoodlums killed a Shi’a member in Tudun Wada quarters of Sokoto North Local Government Area en route to a procession.

There was also a violent confrontation at Tamaje area of Sokoto South Local Government between a mob and sect members. In Katsina State, the police said at least three persons died during a clash between its officials and members of the IMN in Funtua, Funtua Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Usman Abdullahi, said two policemen were injured during the clash. According to him, the police arrested 46 persons comprising men and women for participating in the banned procession. He said the incident occurred when members of the Shi’a group attempted to burn the Police Area Commander’s office in the town during the procession.

The IMN released a statement last Wednesday stating that at least 13 of its members were killed in multiple clashes with the police and some hoodlums in Funtua, Sokoto and Kaduna. Some States – Kaduna, Katsina, Kano and Kebbi had earlier banned the group’s annual procession.

The alleged reason for the attacks where that they were commemorating a religious rite called “Ashura”, which involves processional marches. Over the years, these processions have been done peacefully in many parts of the country. This year, however, there were concerted attempts by both security agencies and other Islamic groups to stop them.

The Order of the Kaduna State Government has clearly become a trigger that unleashed these attacks on members of the Shi’a community all over the country. It is estimated that there are about three million members of this religious community across Nigeria and it is highly irresponsible for state governments to proscribe their operations.

One of the most dangerous convictions is for members of a religious community to believe that their freedom to exercise their faith, according to their belief, is being embargoed. Also, in this situation, the detention of the Shi’a leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky and his wife since December last year, with no charges filed against them, is frightfully unacceptable. Their followers have been demanding and demonstrating for their release and all the security agencies have been doing is attacking them.

Members of the IMN believe that the Nigerian Government is trying to kill their leader. So far, the army has killed six out his seven sons and now his organisation has been proscribed in Kaduna and Plateau States, while members of the sect are being attacked all over the country. It appears that there is an attempt to push the Shiites in Nigeria to popular revolt. We have enough insurgencies and violent conflicts in Nigeria and PREMIUM TIMES calls on authorities and the civil populace to beware of pushing our country toward more violent conflicts.

PREMIUM TIMES is aware that the attack on Shiites also has an international dimension. In Syria, Bahrain and Yemen, Sunni forces under the leadership of Saudi Arabia have been attacking Shiites in proxy wars. The majority of Nigerians have indicated no interest in being drawn into these proxy wars. It is important to know that the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) is not just an organisation, it is a Shiite Islamic religious movement. The religious movement has about three million members and has branches in all 36 states in the country and banning them could lead to a series of violent clashes all over the country. There is no doubt that banning the organisation would be understood by its members to mean banning their constitutional right to practice their religion.

PREMIUM TIMES believes that the argument for the proscription – that they are not registered – is a flimsy one. It is true that the IMN is not registered. The Nigerian Constitution however allows citizens the freedom of association and movement with or without registration. There are thousands of religious and other associations operating in the country without registration. Members of the IMN should be free to associate, as long as they respect the laws of the country and do not infringe on the rights of others. Nigeria must step back from this dangerous trend that could lead us into stoking yet another religious crisis.

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/213295-editorial-nigeria-must-not-transform-shiites-enemies.html

CC: Seun Lalasticlala Mynd44

TroubleMaker47:
Where is the video?

check the link:

http://newsrescue.com/deadly-attack-shia-muslims-continues-kaduna-house-house-video/#ixzz4NACFYn3f

Albaqir is a Yoruba Shia Muslim that frequently posts on nairaland Islam section.