Killing of Shiite Muslims in Ramadan heartless, condemnable – Cleric

A leading Shiite Islamic scholar in Kano, Sheikh Sani Saleh has condemned in strong terms the recent killings of Shiite Muslim followers during the annual Quds Day peaceful procession in Zaria last Friday.

Sheikh Sani Saleh, who made the condemnation during a closure of this year’s annual Ramadan teachings of Islamic knowledge in Rasulul A’azam Foundation centre, in Kaduna, said, the killings were uncalled for, unbecoming and a direct attack on all Muslims irrespective of creed, faith or sects since it was unprovoked official murder of innocent souls who are observing fasting in the holy month of Ramadan while holding a peaceful march.

He commiserated with all those who lost their loved ones in the official massacre, particularly the leader of the Islamic movement, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, who lost three sons, in which two were arrested alive and later killed in cold-blood in the hands of Nigerian soldiers in their barracks.

The Shiite scholar then chided those Muslims who expressed happiness with the killings of innocent and defence-less Shiites holding a peaceful march in procession in support of yet another oppressed and depraved people of Palestine by Israel, highlighting that, people should not be happy with someone’s else misfortune, because it will certainly affect them.

“Why should Nigerian soldiers murder such many people who are chanting slogans of support for the Palestinian people and against occupation of their homeland by the Zionist? Why can’t the soldiers go to Sambisa and Boko Haram enclave and root them out if at all they are serious?

“What happened is a clear violation of human rights and international humanitarian law that must be investigated and punished according to the laws of this country”, he stated.

The Sheikh then said, for anyone who is current, knows that the Quds Day is being observed for over 20 years across the world, including the US, UK, and even inside Israel itself, to bring home the plight of Palestinian people against their invading forces of Israel and their Zionist agenda, adding that, why should that of Nigeria be different? Why? Even if the marchers blocked way for the soldiers, did they deserve this kind of heartless and gruesome killings?” he pondered.