News / Politics

Iran summons Nigeria chargé d'affaires over Zakzaky situation

Monday, 08 July 2019 10:42 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 08 July 2019 11:01 PM ]

Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria take part in a demonstration against detention of their leader Ibrahim al-Zakzaky in the capital Abuja on January 22, 2019. (Photo by AFP)

Iran’s Foreign Ministry says it has summoned Nigeria’s chargé d'affaires to the country to express concern over reports of Nigerian Muslim leader Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky’s deteriorating health condition.

Ministry Spokesman Abbas Mousavi announced the summoning on Monday, describing Zakzaki as a “eruditely and distinguished figure.”

“We hope that the efforts that are being taken [towards bettering Mr. Zakzaky’s condition] yield result and he recovers his health,” Moussavi said.

The 66-year-old leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria has been in detention since December 2015 following a crackdown by Nigerian forces against the African nation’s Muslim community.

He has reportedly sustained serious injury resulting from brutal treatment by security forces that has cost him his left eye.

PressTV-Nigeria’s Zakzaky in dire need of treatment: Rights group

Islamic Human Rights Commission calls on Nigeria to immediately release Shia Muslim cleric Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky from prison due to threatening health condition.

The crackdown also took the lives of three of his sons and 300 of his followers.

In 2016, Nigeria’s federal high court ordered Zakzaky’s unconditional release from jail following a trial.

However, he was charged in April 2018 with murder, culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disruption of public peace, and other accusations. He has pleaded not guilty.

Most recently, his son Mohammad said the authorities were determined to take the cleric’s life by exposing him to toxic material.