Iran says it is using all diplomatic channels to pursue the release of a prominent Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky who was arrested by the Nigerian army last month.

“We have used all those channels to warn them [Nigeria] regarding this issue. So hopefully the government… would adopt wise action given the sensitive situation,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hoseyn Jaberi-Ansari told reporters in the capital, Tehran.

Sheikh al-Zakzaky after members of his Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) clashed with the army in the northern city of Zaria.

Campaign group Human Rights Watch said at least 300 IMN members were killed and quickly buried in a mass graves during the incident. The Nigerian military denied the claim.

The military accuses the pro-Iranian sect of trying to assassinate army chief Gen Tukur Buratai, which it denies.

Iran is currently embroiled in a diplomatic row with Saudi Arabia over the execution of a prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.
Shia in Nigeria
▪ Shia are minority in Nigeria but their numbers are increasing
▪ The IMN, formed in the 1980s, is the main Shia group led by Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky
▪ They operate their own schools and hospitals in some northern states
▪ They have a history of clashes with the security forces
▪ The IMN is backed by Shia-dominated Iran and its members often go there to study
▪ Sunni jihadist group Boko Haram condemns Shias as heretics who should be killed

http://saharareporters.com/2016/01/04/we-have-used-all-channels-warn-nigeria-over-shi%E2%80%99ite-leader-%E2%80%93-iran

Hope this war will be averted.... Clueless government

Mstw even U.S.A cannot dictate to us, talkless of Iran. Here we have a system.

We should released him without investigation and being charged to court?

We should let him go after creating a state under a state?

We are also warning Iran to stay out of our business or else.. They will face the unbearably consequences.

Ayatollah, whatever action you are going to take please do not come down south, grab a nigerian map, the sunnis live in the core northern states of sokoto, zamfara, Katsina, Gombe, borno, kano, kaduna, jigawa, adamawa and more.

Find them there and do whatever you wish with them, just keep the Christian south out of your Sunni Jihad vs Shiite Jihad wars. We in the south are not interested. We are not one people.

FriendChoice:
Mstw even U.S.A cannot dictate to us, talkless of Iran. Here we have a system.

We should released him without investigation and being charged to court?

We should let him go after creating a state under a state?

We are also warning Iran to stay out of our business or else.. They will face the unbearably consequences.

The same constitution your jackboot president refuse to obey! If everybody follows the president's footstep by disobeying court orders, do you think he can wait to finish what he has started?

I will reserve my comment regarding the rationality of detaining or releasing Sheikh al-Zakzaky.
---
However, I think Iran is the most unworthy country to demand diplomatic understanding from any country. They & North Korea are in the habit of not honoring diplomatic relationships. They jail and execute foreign nationals at will under unverified espionage claims. They do not even listen to the United Nations.

Thank God Jonathan is not head of state.

Iran please limit your revenge in the far North.

A country becomes a banana republic when its leader is a tribal and religious bigot and cap it all by being a dictator too. Thus it is not that such a country eats more banana than others but no opinion expressed by anyone different from the leader is right. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Nigeria.

As much as I sympathise with the Shiite group, I think it is inappropriate for Iran to attempt to dictate to us or meddle into our affairs. They should be mindful of their words and speeches. Nigeria is not an extension of Iran. We shall not tolerate their gross abuse and disrespect.




That said the government should #Free El Zakzaky not for the sake of the silly Iranians though, but because it is the rational thing to do.

Please who knows Ayatollah Khameni email o that I can send him buhari's Daura hometown coordinates through Google maps because I'm not ready for Hezbollah madness in Nigeria

Ezemarcel:
Hope this war will be averted.... Clueless government

6 years of 'clueless', 'incompetent' GEJ nothing like this happend.

The almighty wise one, whose name we are not worthy to mention has only been in govt for 8 months and we've got a crashed currency, rule of law consigned to the dustbin, and now we are at loggerheads with Iran! Iran of all countries, a country that even the US treads carefully with. Good one ACP, carry on, 2016 promises to be very interesting.

Ecoterrorist:
Please who knows Ayatollah Khameni email o that I can send him buhari's Daura hometown coordinates through Google maps because I'm not ready for Hezbollah madness in Nigeria

True talk brother. I beg add the co-ordinates of
Chief of Army staff
Director of DSS
Liar Liar Mohammed
and Midget El Rufai.

Make Hezbollah start with those ones first.

TonyeBarcanista:
As much as I sympathise with the Shiite group, I think it is inappropriate for Iran to attempt to dictate to us or meddle into our affairs. They should be mindful of their words and speeches. Nigeria is not an extension of Iran. We shall not tolerate their gross abuse and disrespect.




That said the government should #Free El Zakzaky not for the sake of the silly Iranians though.

Sorry but i disagree. If a senior Catholic Cardinal was arrested in a country, would you not expect The Vatican to issue a statement? Iran is the global leader of Shia Islam and as such they are have a keen interest when Shia are being persecuted anywhere in the world.

bjdon:


True talk brother. I beg add the co-ordinates of
Chief of Army staff
Director of DSS
Liar Liar Mohammed
and Midget El Rufai.

Make Hezbollah start with those ones first.

Yes ooooo

Please post non sunni regions Iran must not touch

Someone should send it to PRESSTV.

Just imagine this under Jonathan,the North would be threatening war by now.

bjdon:


Sorry but i disagree. If a senior Catholic Cardinal was arrested in a country, would you not expect The Vatican to issue a statement? Iran is the global leader of Shia Islam and as such they are have a keen interest when Shia are being persecuted anywhere in the world.

The Vatican can't and won't meddle, they will only exploit diplomatic channel to appeal to authorities. Iran has no business dictating to an independent State. All they can do is to exploit diplomatic channel.

bjdon:


Sorry but i disagree. If a senior Catholic Cardinal was arrested in a country, would you not expect The Vatican to issue a statement? Iran is the global leader of Shia Islam and as such they are have a keen interest when Shia are being persecuted anywhere in the world.

If a cardinal commits a crime in Nigeria, am very sure the Vatican won't come to his defence. We have our internal laws in Nigeria and it is not in Irans place to tell us what to do or what not to do. El-Zakzaky was alleged to have violated Nigeria's law, he would be tried and punished if found guilty and there is nothing Iran can do about it.

TonyeBarcanista:

The Vatican can't and won't meddle, they will only exploit diplomatic channel to appeal to authorities. Iran has no business dictating to an independent State. All they can do is to exploit diplomatic channel.

You are a very intelligent chap, so let's not beat about the bush or waste time with semantics. There is a global Shia V Sunni civil war going on. Iran leads the Shia, Saudi leads the Sunnis. Anywhere the Shia are being victimized you can expect Iran's voice to be heard, that is just a fact. Another simple fact is that Nigeria is in no way shape or form ready/able to confront Iran. If they want to sponsor mayhem in our country they can do so. One of their proxy armies, Hezbollah is the ONLY mid east force to fight Isreal to a standstill.

I've got little time for empty boasting and chest beating. Nigeria could not handle rag tag Boko Haram(who by the way are still not defeated), they had to bribe the ND militants to cease fire. Is that the country that now wants to take on Iran? Sorry bro but in international affairs might is right and Iran has the might, Nigeria should do the needful to defuse the situation.

seunmsg:


If a cardinal commits a crime in Nigeria, am very sure the Vatican won't come to his defence. We have our internal laws in Nigeria and it is not in Irans place to tell us what to do or what not to do. El-Zakzaky his alleged to have violated Nigerian law, he would be tried and punished if found guilty and there is nothing Iran can do about it.

Bravado on the internet is sooo easy. Let's see how things pan out

Abeg the should go and sit down

bjdon:


Bravado on the internet is sooo easy. Let's see how things pan out

It's a pity some of you think Iran would attack Nigeria on this matter. Wake up from your dream bro, it's never going to happen.

bjdon:

You are a very intelligent chap, so let's not beat about the bush or waste time with semantics. There is a global Shia V Sunni civil war going on. Iran leads the Shia, Saudi leads the Sunnis. Anywhere the Shia are being victimized you can expect Iran's voice to be heard, that is just a fact. Another simple fact is that Nigeria is in no way shape or form ready/able to confront Iran. If they want to sponsor mayhem in our country they can do so. One of their proxy armies, Hezbollah is the ONLY mid east force to fight Isreal to a standstill.

I've got little time for empty boasting and chest beating. Nigeria could not handle rag tag Boko Haram(who by the way are still not defeated), they had to bribe the ND militants to cease fire. Is that the country that now wants to take on Iran? Sorry bro but in international affairs might is right and Iran has the might, Nigeria should do the needful to defuse the situation.

Except through sponsorship of militia groups/terrorists, Iran can't do jack. They can't send the armies. They will only whine and blow hot air. Iran should stay off our affairs.. Shikena


PS: Hezbollah is no match for Israel.

bjdon:

You are a very intelligent chap, so let's not beat about the bush or waste time with semantics. There is a global Shia V Sunni civil war going on. Iran leads the Shia, Saudi leads the Sunnis. Anywhere the Shia are being victimized you can expect Iran's voice to be heard, that is just a fact. Another simple fact is that Nigeria is in no way shape or form ready/able to confront Iran. If they want to sponsor mayhem in our country they can do so. One of their proxy armies, Hezbollah is the ONLY mid east force to fight Isreal to a standstill.

I've got little time for empty boasting and chest beating. Nigeria could not handle rag tag Boko Haram(who by the way are still not defeated), they had to bribe the ND militants to cease fire. Is that the country that now wants to take on Iran? Sorry bro but in international affairs might is right and Iran has the might, Nigeria should do the needful to defuse the situation.

The best policy is to avoid this war

But will the proud Northern Sunnis agree to that.


Anyway, they should not touch the SE/SS.

seunmsg:


It's a pity some you think Iran would attack Nigeria on this matter. Wake up from your dream bro, it's never going to happen.

Iran will not invade Nigeria directly but might sponsor terror groups

Nigeria needs to remain Neutral

Buhari should tread carefully

Islam minus sunni equals peace.

FriendChoice:
Mstw even U.S.A cannot dictate to us, talkless of Iran. Here we have a system.

We should released him without investigation and being charged to court?

We should let him go after creating a state under a state?

We are also warning Iran to stay out of our business or else.. They will face the unbearably consequences.

This apc online zombie will put Buhari into problem and abandon him later

FriendChoice:
Mstw even U.S.A cannot dictate to us, talkless of Iran. Here we have a system.

We should released him without investigation and being charged to court?

We should let him go after creating a state under a state?

We are also warning Iran to stay out of our business or else.. They will face the unbearably consequences.

is it by mouth or by action. Pray against extermal aggression. Technologically nigeria is below average, financially nigeria is down. In military hardwares nigeria is exhusted. Internal crises every where. One question is did nigeria has any device to intercept missiles and rockets?

ZoboKunu:
Just imagine this under Jonathan,the North would be threatening war by now.

Did d shiite leader not lost 3 sons in one day? did d north yell under dumbo's watch?

We are watching....seems like Boko Haram would help fight this