Nigerian police have arrested 200 Shia Muslims, including women and children, for participating in a religious ceremony to commemorate the birth of Hazrat Zahra (SA) in the capital, Abuja. The action is the latest in a series of incidents targeting the Shia community, raising concerns about human rights violations. (Image for illustrative purposes only)
The Nigerian police arrested a number of Shia Muslims, including a mother and her three-month-old infant, for participating in a religious ceremony to mark the birth of Hazrat Zahra (SA) in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, which sparked controversy and anger among Shia Muslims.
Local newspapers, quoting a spokesman for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), said: “These arrests were carried out without any legal justification, as the detainees were preparing to end the celebration and return to their homes. Security forces forcibly entered.“
The spokesman for the Islamic Movement of Nigeria emphasized: “Most of those arrested were women and young people, including a three-month-old infant. This incident is one of the latest in a series of similar incidents in which security forces have targeted civilians and abused their power, violating fundamental rights such as the freedom of peaceful assembly.”
According to information obtained from eyewitnesses, the number of detainees was close to 200.
This incident has sparked widespread anger and discontent among religious and political movements and human rights organizations in Nigeria, who have called for an investigation into the perpetrators of these arbitrary arrests.
From: shiawaves