FG’s move to proscribe IMN is absurd – Shiites Spokesman

Spokesman of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), Ibrahim Musa, has said that it is absurd for the Federal Government to proscribe the group and leading members and lawyers are currently studying the court order.

The Federal Government had obtained an order from the Federal High Court, Abuja, proscribing the movement after series of protests by members of IMN, popularly known as Shiites which claimed lives and destruction of properties.
The IMN have been demanding the release of their leader, Ibrahim El-Zakyzaky and his wife Zinat, who has been in detention since 2015.

Elzkazaky and his wife are facing trial over allegations of culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, and disruption of the public peace, among other charges filed against them by the Kaduna state government.

Mr Musa told newsmen that a decision has not been reached and the IMN cannot be described as a terrorist group.
“As regards the court orders proscribing the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, for now, the movement hasn’t reached a decision.
“The leading members and lawyers are studying the court order and very soon, they will issue a way out for the movement.

“But we believe we are the victims of all that has been happening so it is very unfortunate that a group that has not retaliated, all the killings it has suffered under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, it will now be accused of being a terrorist group.”

He claimed that the group and its members, despite the attack on them, have not killed anybody.
“Have you ever seen a terrorist group that one-third of its members have been killed and they haven’t killed anybody?
“So it is absurd we believe, for the Federal Government to take this step of proscribing the IMN. “
The IMN Spokesman added that if their leader and his wife are released to take adequate medical care, their agitation will reduce.

“We hope the international community will put more pressure on the government. Our major demand is for them to release our leader to go and look after his health.

“If they do this; all our agitations, especially on the streets of Abuja, will meltdown.”