The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has called on the Federal and
Kaduna state governments to release its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky in view
of the trying times facing the country due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This call was made by the Movement in a press statement issued to
newsmen today by the president of its Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa.
He said there are many valid reasons on which his release should
foremostly be considered by the authorities. “Sheikh Zakzaky deserves immediate
freedom for very many reasons particularly at this difficult period that the
nation is facing the scourge of Coronavirus. Chiefly among these, he remained
in detention despite a 2016 federal high court ruling that declared his arrest
and detention as unlawful, unconstitutional and a breach of his fundamental
rights.”
He added that even the court case for which the Sheikh is being
prosecuted in Kaduna shouldn’t stand against his release at these difficult
times, because “two different Kaduna High Courts have since discharged and acquitted
almost 200 members of the Islamic Movement, who stood trial for the same
charges he is allegedly said to have aided and abetted, for which he is
currently unfairly being tried as a ploy to justify his perpetual detention,”
according to the statement.
Below is the full text of the press statement:
SHEIKH ZAKZAKY: A PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE THAT MUST FOREMOSTLY BE
RELEASED
Since the outbreak of this coronavirus pandemic, many countries all
over the world have been releasing prison inmates in their thousands ostensibly
to decongest them, but also as a way of releasing the innocent ones among them
who were unjustly detained. By so doing, the nation receives succor from the
Creator of the world because of the magnanimity. It is in this same vein that Nigerian
government is expected to release the foremost prisoner of faith in the country
and the Leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, who
has been in detention for almost five years with ailments he sustained in the
course of his arrest and detention.
Sheikh Zakzaky deserves immediate freedom for very many reasons
particularly at this difficult period that the nation is facing the scourge of
Coronavirus. Chiefly among these, he remained in detention despite a 2016
federal high court ruling that declared his arrest and detention as unlawful,
unconstitutional and a breach of his fundamental rights.
Secondly, two different Kaduna High Courts have since discharged
and acquitted almost 200 members of the Islamic Movement, who stood trial for
the same charges he is allegedly said to have aided and abetted, for which he
is currently unfairly being tried as a ploy to justify his perpetual detention.
Furthermore, it is a well-known fact that the Sheikh is in dire
need of expert medical attention as a result of the injuries he sustained when
the military attacked his residence in December 2015. He additionally suffered
multiple strokes while in detention and was found to have dangerously very high
levels of toxic heavy metals circulating in his system. This much has even been
acknowledged by the High Court when they attempted to grant him a medical
leave, which was foiled by the authorities.
Lastly, the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic and its devastating
consequences on the sick and those living in appalling conditions is a cause of
grave concern. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world,
it is the responsibility of government to seek ways of protecting the
vulnerable such as the Sheikh, by granting him his immediate freedom. There is
no better time to release the ailing Sheikh than now, given the emergency
situation prevailing in the country and his dire health situation.
We therefore unequivocally call on the federal and Kaduna state
governments to do the needful by releasing him immediately.
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