Eyewitnesses are reporting that soldiers from the Nigerian army have launched an assault on the private residence of Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in Zaria.
Sheikh Ibraheem Al-Zakzaky (el-Zakzaky) is the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. His movement has been highly critical of political corruption, the Nigerian-Israeli governmental relationships and intelligence sharing, Boko Haram and the relationship it has with facets of the Nigerian army, as well as other issues. The movement itself is heavily involved in educational and social programmes across Nigeria.
Last year at the annual pro-Palestine demonstrations some 40 people were shot and killed by an army unit, including 3 sons of Zakzaky. This is not the first time the movement has experienced violent suppression and abuses.
This week activists from the movement were killed in separate attacks. Today at the funeral of some of these in the Hussainiyah Baqiyatullah (Islamic Centre) in Zaria, an army unit approached and opened fire on unarmed mourners. Eyewitnesses report some 30 were killed.
At the time of writing there are reports that soldiers are advancing on the house of Al-Zakzaky, and that supporters have been forming a human shield to proetct the household. Reports state that 20 people from the human shield have been shot and killed by the military.
Demonstrations are taking place across Nigeria in support of Zakzaky and the beleaguered mourners in Zaria. A protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in London is underway, with further demonstrations scheduled to take place today across South East Asia.
Suggested action:
1. Call a flash protest outside the Nigerian High Commission / Embassy in your country. A protest has been called immediately outside the Nigerian High Commission in London, UK. You can join it now at 9 Northumberland Ave, London WC2N 5BX. Â Use www.tfl.gov.uk for directions and public transport options if you are not driving down.
2. Email / call the Foreign Office / Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country demanding their immediate intervention to prevent these massacres and the attack on the house of al-Zakzaky. UK campaigners can email fcocorrespondence@fco.gov.uk and call 020 7008 1500.
3. Call your major news stations (in the UK call the BBC) and ask them to send a reporter now. You can WhatsApp the BBC on this number +447525900971
4. Please spread the word via email, social media etc and follow IHRC on Twitter.
