Qom Seminary Instructors Condole With Nigerian Muslim Leader

Qom, Aug 3, IRNA – Qom Seminaryˈs Instructors Association in a message condoled the Nigerian Muslim leader Ebrahim Yaqoub Zakzaky on the martyrdom of his sons in the African countryˈs raid on a peaceful International Quds Day demonstrations. ˈQuds Day has arisen from the voice of the oppressed people throughout history against the global arrogance and the awakened conscience of humans for establishment of justice in the world,ˈ part of the Qom Seminaryˈs message read. ˈThe usurper Zionist regime in its recent attacks on Gaza has done the worst savagery acts as the western and Arab governments support the regime and the international organization have remained silent accordinglyˈ it added. At least 25 Nigerian demonstrators were gunned down by security forces during the anti-Israeli rally in the ancient city of Zaria in Nigeria’s Kaduna state on July 25. The Quds Day rallies turned violent as Nigerian troops killed a number of participants in a major city in the Northern parts of the country, including the three sons of a prominent Muslim leader who is an opponent of Boko Haram. Further to the shootings and killing of pro-Palestinian protesters at Friday’s Al-Quds Day march in Zaria, and the subsequent killings in custody of protestors, which led to the killing of the three sons of a Muslim leader, the army raided the Hussainiyyah Baqiyyatullah Islamic Centre affiliated to the Islamic Movement and opened fire killing 3, and injuring 7 on Saturday. The center where some of the injured from Friday’s massacre (photos are available here) were sheltering, as well as where some of released bodies of those killed were being prepared for burial. This adds to Friday’s death toll. Among those killed were 3 sons of the Islamic Movement’s leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky who is a harsh critic of Boko Haram terrorist group. Killed at the demonstration was Syed Mahmoud, whilst the two other brothers Syed Ahmed and Syed Hameed, were taken into custody with their brother Syed Ali. All three were shot and only Ali appears to have survived. Whilst the reports from Friday’s massacre indicated that the troops involved were from the Sabon Gari barracks, those in charge there are claiming that the troops involved were in fact sent from Abuja and were not commanded from the locale. The Islamic Movement in Nigeria is not an armed movement. It has organized peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations on annual basis for over 33 years across Nigeria and particularly in the state of Kaduna. IHRC Chair, Massoud Shadjareh said, “The Goodluck- Netanyahu cooperation is resulting in massacres beyond Gaza’s borders. The blood of these young men and women killed in Nigeria is equally on the hands of both men and regimes.ˈ/end