Iran calls on Nigeria to respect religious figures, sites

Iranian Foreign Ministry says Iran hopes that preservation of calm and national unity in Nigeria in battling terrorism is prioritized while rash and unconstructive measures are avoided.

Iran has called on Nigerian authorities to respect religious figures and sites following two days of deadly persecution against the country’s Shia Muslims.

“Nigeria… is now dealing with problems arising from extremism and Takfiri terrorism and we hope that in these conditions preservation of calm and national unity in battling terrorism is prioritized while rash and unconstructive measures are avoided,” IRNA quoted Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaber-Ansari as saying on Sunday.

Jaber-Ansari expressed sorrow over the recent bloody clashes, which broke out between Muslim worshipers and government troops earlier in the day.

Nigerian forces raided the home of the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Ibrahim al-Zakzaky, and arrested him after reportedly killing several of those protecting him including one of the group’s senior leaders and its spokesman.

Since their arrest, the fate of Zakzaky and his wife remains unknown

The developments followed the Saturday clashes between troops and Shia Muslims in the country’s city of Zaria, in Kaduna state, in which at least 15 people were killed and many more injured.

Reports said soldiers opened fire on the people attending a ceremony in Hussainiyyah Bagheeyatullah, a religious center in the northern city. The Shias had reportedly stopped the convoy of the Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai as the top Shia cleric was planning a speech in the religious center.

 

Emad Askarieh

Emad Askarieh has worked as a journalist since 2002. The main focus of his work is foreign policy and world diplomacy. He started his career at Iran Front Page Media Group, and is currently serving as the World Editor and the Vice-President for Executive Affairs at the Iran Front Page (IFP) news website.

Recent Posts

Former Iranian envoy: Tehran needs to talk to Washington after Trump’s victory

Former Iranian ambassador to Germany says Iran can negotiate with US President-elect Donald Trump after…

31 mins ago

IAEA chief says likely to visit Iran soon

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said on Wednesday he might head…

34 mins ago

Trump’s victory to test his claim of ending Israeli war in Gaza within hours: Hamas

Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election puts to the test his earlier statements…

13 hours ago

Several sentenced to death in Iran for spying for Israel

Four people in Iran have been sentenced to death for spying for and collaborating with…

13 hours ago

Lebanon files complaint with UN against Israel over pager attacks

Beirut announced that it had filed a complaint with the United Nations’ labour agency over…

16 hours ago

Iran says “no significant difference” in who becomes US president

The Iranian government has announced that there is "no significant difference" in who becomes president…

16 hours ago