The Al Ja’afary Shi’ite Muslim Community in Nigeria has condemned in strong terms the excessive pressure and restrictions imposed by security forces on its members during the recent religious festivals.
A statement issued by the National Public Relations Officer of the religious group, Abdullahi Hassan, Shazy on Saturday, in Kaduna said they were still mourning the loss of four Shia lives and the injury inflicted on over 50 others.
The group also condemned the arrest of over a hundred innocent Shia civilians in the month of August.
According to the statement, “We also strongly condemn the forceful removal of Muslim sisters’ divinely ordained dress, exposing their nakedness, and the torture of brothers and sisters in packed cells without regard for their privacy.”
The group demanded an end to what it called “unjust actions” and urged security forces to cease using the “IMN” label to perpetrate violence against Shias.
The group urged security forces to address genuine threats to national peace and security, such as Boko Haram terrorism, banditry and hunger in parts of the country.
It emphasized that the Araba’een festival is a global celebration, observed peacefully worldwide, commemorating the brutal killing of the Prophet’s grandson by Yazid in Karbala-Iraq 1,400 years ago.
It claimed that the Shia community is known for its peaceful nature in Nigeria and globally, calling on the government and security agencies to recognize and respect Shia Muslims’ rights to practice their faith without fear of persecution.