US, Israeli, Saudi Regimes Preventing Freedom of Nigeria’s Sheikh Zakzaky: Activist
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior member of Nigeria’s Islamic Movement highlighted the reasons behind the continued imprisonment of top Muslim cleric Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky by the Abuja government and said the US, Israeli and Saudi regimes are behind the move.
“Despite a ruling issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria to release of Sheikh Zakzaky, the head of the Nigerian government has not done so yet,” Abdullah Danladi said in an interview with the Tasnim News Agency.
The issue has its roots in the orders given to the Nigerian government by the US, Israeli and Saudi regimes, he said, adding that they want the cleric to be held captive.
The activist further pointed to the health conditions of Sheikh Zakzaky and said he has already lost his left eye and his right eye was also damaged.
According to physicians, Sheikh Zakzaky should be sent abroad to treat his eye, but the Nigerian government is preventing this, Danladi said.
In early December 2016, Abuja division of the Federal High Court of Nigeria ruled that Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat should be released unconditionally.
The prominent cleric and his wife were taken into custody on December 14, 2015, after deadly clashes between the supporters of the IMN and Nigerian troops.
Nearly 350 members of the Shiite movement were killed in the clashes. The sheikh was brutally injured and his house was reportedly destroyed by the army in the incident.
