The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise called Shi’ites have once more raise an alarm over what they described as deteriorating health conditions of their leader Mallam Ibraheem El Zakzaky and his wife.
Addressing a press conference on behalf of the Academic Forum of the Islamic movement in Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, Abdullahi Musa said the couple’s right were being violated and their lives put at risk.
Musa said “on the 25th April, 2019, a delegation of expert doctors and consultants led by the Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) gained access to Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife: and they conducted initial medical investigations on both of them.
“The reports stated that Sheikh Zakzaky sustained multiple gunshot injuries, particularly in both of his eyes, his left hand and his right leg. All this occurred on the 14th of December 2015.
“However, he underwent extensive surgeries in the eyes. Recently, there is the issue of chest pain and breath shortness that the Sheikh is having. The report also stated that Malama Zeenah also sustained gunshot injuries, most especially in her abdomen and blunt facial trauma causing fracture of the nasal bones.
“Again, she has severe, progressive and disabling bilateral knee joint pains affecting her daily activities, including walking inside the house, necessitating continuous use of a wheelchair”.
Furthermore, he said “the medical reports of Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife revealed that the couple needs urgent treatment that could only be obtained outside Nigeria. The Doctors strongly recommended that the couple be allowed urgent treatment inefficient health facilities abroad both on medical and humanitarian grounds”.
He said it is inhuman for El-zakzaky and his wife to continue being in detention without proper medical attention after a Federal High Court ruling in December 2016 by Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered the immediate and unconditional release of the couple and payment of compensation for violating the fundamental human rights.
“The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations Human Rights Council at its 83rd session held on 19th – 23rd November 2018, and published on 10th January, 2019, has opined that the deprivation of liberty of Sheikh El-Zakzaky and his wife, being in contravention of article 8, 9, 19, and 20 (1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and articles 9, 14, 19, 21 and 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, is arbitrary and falls within categories I, II and III”.
“Obviously, the rights of the couple have been violated, and their lives are in danger. Recent information reaching us through the relatives of the Sheikh revealed that the poisonous bullets used by the trigger-happy soldiers are still in the body of the couple, causing a lot of damages and sickness reactions to the Sheikh and his wife. Unless the poisonous bullets are removed, the lives of the couple are at stake.
“In view of the foregoing, we are reiterating our demand for the unconditional release of our Leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H) and his wife Zeenah Ibraheem”, Musa added.
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