Zarif urges Nigeria to take serious measures to protect Muslims

TEHRAN, Dec. 14 (MNA) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed concern over the killing of Shia Muslims in Zaria in Northern Nigeria. Zarif urged Nigeria's government on Monday to take a serious and immediate action to avoid violence and establish peace to protect the lives of Muslims who have fallen victim to deadly attacks by the government forces in recent days. “Iran is deeply concerned over the tragic massacre of Shia Muslims in Nigeria’s northern city of Zaria," Zarif noted in a phone call with Nigerian counterpart Geoffrey Onyeama. While emphasizing the good relations between the two countries, Iranian FM said Islamic Republic expects the Nigerian government to control the situation by maintaining peace and protecting the lives of Muslim people. Onyeama, for his part, expressed the hope that consultations with senior officials of the country would lead to restoration of peace and to prevent the intensification of conflicts and violence against Muslims. Earlier, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber Ansari also called for solidarity and avoiding hasty and nonconstructive measures in Nigeria to fight terrorism. In the past two days, Nigerian forces raided the home of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and arrested him after reportedly killing several of those protecting him including one of the group’s senior leaders, its spokesman, son and wife. http://en.mehrnews.com/news/112804/Zarif-urges-Nigeria-to-take-serious-measures-to-protect-Muslims