Alert Update: Prolonged Violence and Detention of Shia minority in Nigeria
Written by Islamic Human Rights Commission
Monday, 29 October 2007
Islamic Human Rights Commission
Alert Update: Prolonged Violence and Detention of Shia minority in Nigeria
Following the death of popular Sunni cleric in Sokoto, persecution of Shia
community at the hands of Nigerian security forces has increased.
------------------------------------------- Islamic Human Rights Commission
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Contents
1.Summary
2.Background
3.Action Required
1. Summary
The collective punishment of the Shia community in Sokoto has not ceased, as
their homes continue to be demolished by local authorities, while the 115
detainees, who were arrested following the killing of Sunni cleric Umar
Danmaishiyya, have yet to be tried.
2. Background
After the killing of Sunni cleric Umar Danmaishiyya on 18 July 2007, Shia
members of the group known as the ‘Islamic Movement’ and ‘The Muslim Brothers’
were collectively blamed for the killing by Sokoto’s local authorities.
Subsequently, the police arrested and detained 115 of the group’s members. Since
the assassination, 68 homes have been destroyed and more than 50 women and
children have gone missing. Further, 7 members have been murdered; some were
reportedly burned alive in their homes, while one was hacked to death and
mutilated. All this was reportedly carried out by a combined force of federal
military, state police and mobs under police protection.
It is reportedly believed by the Shia community of Sokoto that the local
government had used the assassination of the Sunni cleric as a ploy to
indiscriminately attack them. In weeks following the initial killing, the state
government destroyed the group’s centre, clinic and school.
Although the state commissioner of the Nigerian police declared on the BBC Hausa
Service that there was no evidence linking members of the Sokoto’s Shia
community to the cleric’s assassination, the state government continued to
collectively punish the minority sect.
Thus far, the 115 detainees have been held for over three months, while none
have been charged with killing or conspiracy to kill Umar Danmaishiyya. On the 3
October 2007, the home of Kasimu Omar was demolished alongside three other
homes. Interestingly, the official reason was the government’s plan to build a
police station and clinic in its place. On 17 October 2007, the court postponed
the group’s trial date for the sixth time, with the chief Magistrate of Sokoto
refusing to preside over their case.
Unfortunately, the Nigerian judicial process in the country is reportedly one of
the slowest in the world. Over 60% of inmates in their prison system are
awaiting trial. They live with ordinarily convicted criminals and are regularly
subjected to rape, torture and various other dehumanizing conditions. Many die
while waiting to be tried.
a] Write to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your country requesting them to
make representations to their Nigerian counterparts concerning this blatant
repression of religious minorities.
UK campaigners can write to:
Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Fax: +44 0207 839 2417
Email:
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b] Write to the Nigerian Ambassador expressing your concern for members of the
Islamic Movement in Sokoto and calling for an end to the aggression against
them.
UK campaigners can write to:
H.E. Mr D C B Nwanna
High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Nigeria House
9 Northumberland Avenue
London.
WC2N 5BX
Fax: 0207 839 8746
Email:
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c) Write to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion requesting her to
urge the Nigerian authorities to end the religious persecution of the Shia
community in Sokoto.
UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Dr Asma Jahangir
131-E/1
Gulberg-III
Lahore
Pakistan
Fax: +92 42 576-3236
Email:
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Updated sample letters are given below for your convenience. Please note that
model letters can be sent directly or adjusted as necessary to include further
details. If you receive a reply to the letter you send, we request you to send a
copy of the letter you sent and the reply you received to IHRC. This is
extremely important as it helps IHRC to monitor the situation with regards to
our campaigns and to improve upon the current model letters.
Rt. Hon. David Miliband MP
Foreign & Commonwealth Office
King Charles Street
London
SW1A 2AH
Dear Mr David Miliband,
Re: Prolonged Violence and Detention of Shia minority in Nigeria
I am deeply concerned about the increasing persecution of the Shia community in
Sokoto, following the death of the popular Sunni cleric Umar Danmaishiyya.
Homes of members of the Shia community continue to be destroyed by local
authorities. The number of Shias murdered since the killing of the Sunni leader
has increased as well, with some of the bodies having been mutilated.
Furthermore, many women and children who had reportedly gone missing have yet to
be found.
In addition, 115 members of the Shia group, who were arrested following the
murder Umar Danmaishiyya, have been held for over three months now. None have
been charged with killing or conspiring to kill Umar Danmaishiyya. On 3 October
2007, home of Kasimu Omar, who is one of the Shia leaders detained, was
demolished alongside three other homes, with the official reason for the
demolition being the government’s plan to build a police station and clinic in
its place. Hopes of the group receiving a fair trial or of being released in the
near future are quickly diminishing as the court again postponed the group’s
trial date for the sixth time, with the chief Magistrate of Sokoto refusing to
preside over their case.
Hence, I request you to urge your Nigerian counterparts to put an end to this
religious persecution of the Shias in Sokoto. I urge you to call for an
independent and impartial investigation into the events surrounding the
assassination of Umaru Danmaishiyya and into all subsequent acts of violence
including the disappearance and deaths of several Shias in Sokoto and to fully
compensate those whose homes were destroyed. Please ensure that all detainees
are treated in accordance with international human rights standards, and that
they are either charged and tried in a court of law or immediately released.
I look forward to hearing from you soon on this urgent matter,
H.E. Mr D C B Nwanna
High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Nigeria House
9 Northumberland Avenue
London.
WC2N 5BX
Dear Mr D C B Nwanna,
Re: Prolonged Violence and Detention of Shia minority in Nigeria
I am deeply concerned about the increasing persecution of the Shia community in
Sokoto, following the death of the popular Sunni cleric Umar Danmaishiyya.
Homes of members of the Shia community continue to be destroyed by local
authorities. The number of Shias murdered since the killing of the Sunni leader
has increased as well, with some of the bodies having been mutilated.
Furthermore, many women and children who had reportedly gone missing have yet to
be found.
In addition, 115 members of the Shia group, who were arrested following the
murder Umar Danmaishiyya, have been held for over three months now. None have
been charged with killing or conspiring to kill Umar Danmaishiyya. On 3 October
2007, home of Kasimu Omar, who is one of the Shia leaders detained, was
demolished alongside three other homes, with the official reason for the
demolition being the government’s plan to build a police station and clinic in
its place. Hopes of the group receiving a fair trial or of being released in the
near future are quickly diminishing as the court again postponed the group’s
trial date for the sixth time, with the chief Magistrate of Sokoto refusing to
preside over their case.
In carrying out these acts of aggression, the Nigerian government is in breach
of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the Constitutive Act of
the African Union as well as sections 36, 38, 40, 42, 43 and 45 of the Nigerian
Constitution.
I request you to press your government to end to this religious persecution of
the minority community in Sokoto. I urge you to call for an independent and
impartial investigation into the events surrounding the assassination of Umaru
Danmaishiyya and into all subsequent acts of violence including the
disappearance and deaths of several Shias in Sokoto and to fully compensate
those whose homes were destroyed. Please ensure that all detainees are treated
in accordance with international human rights standards, and that they are
either charged and tried in a court of law or immediately released.
I look forward to hearing from you soon on this urgent matter.
Sample Letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
Dr Asma Jahangir
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Date]
Asma Jahangir
UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief
131-E/1
Gulberg-III
Lahore
Pakistan
Dear Ms Asma Jahangir,
Re: Expulsion, Killing and Detention of Religious Minority in Nigeria
I am deeply concerned about the increasing persecution of the Shia community in
Sokoto, following the death of the popular Sunni cleric Umar Danmaishiyya.
Homes of members of the Shia community continue to be destroyed by local
authorities. The number of Shias murdered since the killing of the Sunni leader
has increased as well, with some of the bodies having been mutilated.
Furthermore, many women and children who had reportedly gone missing have yet to
be found.
In addition, 115 members of the Shia group, who were arrested following the
murder Umar Danmaishiyya, have been held for over three months now. None have
been charged with killing or conspiring to kill Umar Danmaishiyya. On 3 October
2007, home of Kasimu Omar, who is one of the Shia leaders detained, was
demolished alongside three other homes, with the official reason for the
demolition being the government’s plan to build a police station and clinic in
its place. Hopes of the group receiving a fair trial or of being released in the
near future are quickly diminishing as the court again postponed the group’s
trial date for the sixth time, with the chief Magistrate of Sokoto refusing to
preside over their case.
I request you to strongly urge the Nigerian government to an end to this
religious persecution of the minority community in Sokoto. I urge you to call
for an independent and impartial investigation into the events surrounding the
assassination of Umaru Danmaishiyya and into all subsequent acts of violence
including the disappearance and deaths of several Shias in Sokoto and to fully
compensate those whose homes were destroyed. Please ensure that all detainees
are treated in accordance with international human rights standards, and that
they are either charged and tried in a court of law or immediately released.
I look forward to hearing from you soon on this urgent matter.
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the weak among the men and the women and the children, (of) those who say: Our
Lord! Cause us to go forth from this town, whose people are oppressors, and give
us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.”
Holy Qur’an: Chapter 4, Verse 75
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This is a ploy from the western powers to divide the muslims especially in this age where the main obstacle in the path is the muslims because the muslims r the 1 one who are opposing their ruthless regimes which r responisble for the present hostilities and also the hostlilities committed throughout the world since the second world war
2. Written by raza on 30-10-2007 16:19
No muslim will ever kill a human being who is innocent Quran condemns the killing of any human being whether he is a muslim or a non-muslim.This ploy is specially to divide the muslims so the danger that they face from the muslim powers can cum to an end so that the muslims die fighting one another and their would b no united one voice agianst the evil zionist regimes of U.S.A and israel.
3. Written by hafiz on 01-11-2007 15:36
these attacks on shias in nigeria are part of a growing trend in the middle east where certain interests working along with their regional pawns, fuel sectarian strife so as to reduce the region to misery.
the 'balkanization' of the muslim nations was a long thought of theory. now that shias in nigeria are strong and have a voice, these very same caligulas are working to do the same again.
may God protect the innocent souls in nigeria.
4. Written by Samia T on 08-11-2007 14:28
This is really sad. I had no idea that Shias in Nigeria were being killed. Shia or Sunni, the killings in Africa should be stopped. We should pray to Allah to hasten the Imam's reappearance, as well as inform others of this plight.
5. Written by Ihsan on 18-11-2007 01:44
BPJDN '/R.ODP 'DR,NFQN)N BN'DN JN' DNJR*N BNHREPJ JN9RDNEOHFN } It was said: Enter the garden. He said: O would that my people had known.
6. Written by Ihsan on 18-11-2007 01:52
Dear Br &Sis Let us unite to prepare ourselves to defeat our enemies specially to flush out the racists from within.
7. Written by Muhammad on 05-12-2007 07:27
It is clearly mentioned in the QURAN tht the correct religion is Islam. Therefore Br and Sis let us keep our differences aside and unite to fight for one major objective which is peace.
8. Written by Jawad on 05-12-2007 07:48
Where is the UNITY?????
9. Written by Murtala Inuwa on 29-12-2007 09:03
The killing and miaming of shias, and of course, the delibrate attempt to wipe us all from the face of the earth has been the tradition of earlier Yazids and the contemporary ones. Let us realise that we are on the right path and we should also revisit our stand on that. May Allah save us from the Yazids and Muawiyyas. Victory shall surely come one day!! God is GREAT
10. Written by Murtala Inuwa on 29-12-2007 09:10
Muslims all over the world should realise that the killing of shias in Nigeria and elsewhere is a plot to create disunity and mutual distrust among the muslim ummah. Our Ulamas and have a greater duty to lead by example by constantly pointing out the importance of unity among muslims as has been clearly shown and demonstrated by the holy prophet (S). May Allah hasten the apperance of our Imam (ATFS)
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