El-Zakzaky: Release Shi’ite leader, Cardinal Onaiyekan tells FG
- Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan has called for the release of Shiites leader, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zazaky
- Cardinal Onaiyekan also stated that the proscription of the Shitte Islamic group is illegal
-The respected clergy also said the federal government’s handling of Shiites was causing embarrassment to the country
The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Cardinal John Olorunfemi Onaiyekan has asked the federal government to respect the order of the court and release the leader of the Shitte Islamic group, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zazaky, from detention.
Onaiyekan called for the release of El-Zakzaky during a press conference on Tuesday, July 30 in Abuja to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his priesthood
He said that the best way to address any infraction of the law by members of the religious group is to prosecute such persons following the due process of law and not to apply extra judiciary methods.
Speaking on the issue of proscription of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) also known as Shi’ites over their recent protests in Abuja, Onaiyekan said that the federal government’s handling of the issue fell short of expectations and was causing embarrassment to the country.
READ ALSO: Shiites react as FG moves to declare sect as terrorist group
His words: “I am not a Muslim but If I was a Muslim, I will also fight for the freedom of every Muslim because freedom of religion is not just freedom. between two religions, there is also freedom within religions.
“If the Shi’ites are protesting, they have told us clearly why they are doing so. The fact that I have not joined them in the protest does not mean that I don’t believe that they have the right to protest.
“Their leader has been under detention against court orders, ordering that he be released, a court order that we have been told very bluntly that has been rejected by the executive.
“I don’t know what would have happened if I was detained unjustly or even for any reason and the court orders my release and they refuse to allow it, I don’t know if anyone will be able to stop the Catholics from protesting.”
Onaiyekan said that if a religious group goes against the laws of the land, such group should be held accountable but that the process must be in line with the provisions of the law.
“I heard about it on my way out of the country and I said I can’t believe it, that it is not true. The proscription of a religious group is certainly not in our character in Nigeria. I am happy to hear government making some statements somewhere, saying they are not proscribing the religious group, that they are only proscribing trouble makers.
“Why I am happy is that I feel that some people in government have realised that it is not good news to tell the whole world that our government has proscribed a religious organisation. I like to see that statement as step to backtracking, government has an allergy to accepting that it has made a error,” he stated.
Cardinal Onaiyekan said though the majority of the Muslims we have in the country are Sunnis but there are a substantial number that belong to the Shi’ite movement, adding that there are also those Muslims that neither belong to two known groups.
He said that the issue now is to get government to reconfirm its belief and respect for the rights of individuals to profess their religious belief.
“We have impressed it on government to ensure the right of every religious group to exist and operate without hindrance. That right should be given not only to the Shi’ite, not only to Catholics but to all religious adherents in the country,” he said.
READ ALSO: Troops arrest notorious bandits in Katsina
Meanwhile, wife of the immediate past president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Papa Ayo Oritsejafor, Mrs Helen Oritsejafor, has said that Nigeria's challenges requires dialogue to address them.
Mrs Oritsejafor, the co-pastor of Word of Life Bible Church, stated that dialogue remains the most important thing necessary to bring peace to Nigeria.
She made the comment on Thursday, July 18 in Abuja at a press conference ahead of the signing tour of her recent book titled “Joyfully Together.”
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