Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as the Shi’ite group, on Friday staged a demonstration in Bauchi to express solidarity with Palestine.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Ahmad Yashi said the rally formed part of activities marking Quds Day, which is observed globally on the last Friday of every Ramadan.
According to him, the demonstration was organised to show support for Palestinians, whom he said had faced invasion for several decades.
“This is a known demonstration held on the last Friday of every month of Ramadan worldwide under the Quds Day platform. It is to show support and sympathy for Palestinians who have been under invasion for about eight decades,” he said.
The group, which is loyal to Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, made the statement while addressing journalists on the sidelines of the demonstration.
Yashi also noted that the group’s demonstrations had remained peaceful over the years, claiming that any breakdown of law and order recorded in the past was usually caused by authorities due to what he described as a misunderstanding of the group’s activities.
The Bauchi State chapter of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria further declared its support for Iran amid the ongoing tensions involving the United States and Israel, warning that eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, could aggravate the crisis.
Yashi said killing Iran’s Supreme Leader would not restore peace but would instead intensify the conflict.
“We are with Iran in heart and soul. They are targeting the Iranian Supreme Leader to make the country surrender, but they are mistaken. The Supreme Leader, as a religious authority, is among those dousing tensions,” he said.
He described Islam as a religion of peace but blamed Western countries for what he termed continued global unrest.
“Islam is a peaceful religion, but the West is the problem. They are selfish and want everyone to bow to them. This will not happen; those days are gone,” he added.
Yashi also revealed that members of the movement in Bauchi had earlier held a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Iran.
“We conducted a peaceful demonstration in support of Iran, and every Muslim must take a side in this war. You are either with the righteous or with the oppressors,” he stated.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command, Nafiu Habib, said the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had directed the deployment of officers to safeguard government facilities across the metropolis ahead of the demonstration.
He explained that security personnel monitored the protest to prevent any possible breakdown of law and order.
According to him, the demonstration ended peacefully without any reported incident.
“Until now, there is no report of any breakdown of law and order,” he added.
(PUNCH)
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