We're not like Boko Haram, Islamic Movement in Nigeria replies Amb Campbell
*Detained leader of Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky
(Nigeria) Islamic Movement in Nigeria, IMN, has reacted to a
piece entitled, “Nigeria’s Treatment of Shia Minority Recalls that of Boko
Haram,” written by a former American Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, saying
the movement was poles apart from Boko Haram.
IMN President, Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa in a statement on
Sunday, said “Our attention has been drawn to a piece titled, “Nigeria’s
Treatment of Shia Minority Recalls That of Boko Haram,” written by a former
American Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, posted on the website of the
American think-tank organisation, the Council on Foreign Relations, which
gained wide coverage in Nigeria’s media.
“The former Ambassador drew similarities between the dreaded
Boko Haram and the Islamic Movement, under the able leadership of our illegally
detained leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky. “The need to issue this statement becomes
imperative in view of the deliberate blackmail, witch-hunt and mischief
inherently contained in the write up.
“His assertion that, “advocacy of violence aside, there are
striking ideological similarities between IMN and Boko Haram, at least for
outside observers" is most unfortunate. His claim that, "both see the
secular state as evil, both want an Islamic state based on Islamic law, and
both want the end to Western influence, including in education", is
grossly misleading.
“Equally mischievous was his summation that, "both also
seek the end of northern Nigeria’s traditional political and religious elite.
For IMN, the model appears to be the aspirations of the post-revolutionary
Iranian Islamic state. Boko Haram’s vision appears more nebulous and less
developed, but both try to function as a state-within-state.”
“For the records, we and Boko Haram are clearly poles apart.
As Sheikh Zakzaky himself repeatedly pointed out, Boko Haram is the creation of
the oil hungry West; a claim Ambassador Campbell erroneously claimed is
implausible.
“However, it is on record that the equally dreaded ISIS
organization wreaking havoc in the middle east, to which Boko Haram gives its
allegiance, is the creation of the US.
“Hence to claim that
Boko Haram wants, “an Islamic state based on Islamic law,” and the end to
Western influence, including in education and also seek the end of northern
Nigeria’s traditional political and religious elite, is superfluous to say the
least.
“It is however, clear to all that Islam as a state religion
was not established by the holy Prophet Muhammad through terroristic activities
to which all these western created groups are known today.
“Boko Haram simply sprang up, hitherto unknown to anybody as
to its teachings, schools and media and started terrorizing people. On the
contrary, the Islamic Movement is a mass movement and its leader, Sheikh
Zakzaky has been calling for inter and intra-faith unity, tolerance and peace
for decades. He is reputed to have sheltered and protected Christians in
Gyallesu, Zaria during post 2011 election violence. He always adds his voice
for the oppressed irrespective of their religion or region or any other
geographical or social divisions whatsoever.
“We therefore, view any attempt to compare the Islamic
Movement, which has been in existence for the past four decades, with Boko
Haram as a subtle but malicious attempt to tarnish our image and pave way for
further violent suppression against us.
“The former Ambassador should have stated the whole truth.
The naked truth is that the federal government decided to suppress the Islamic
Movement on the behest of Saudi Arabia, an agent and ally of the West, killing
over a thousand civilian souls and destroying properties worth billions of
Naira in its wreak.
“The Islamic Movement is rightly demanding for justice to
the victims of these state sponsored terrorism, starting with the unconditional
release of Sheikh Zakzaky, his wife and all the others under detention since
the Zaria pogrom of December 2015.
“On these we will not blink, nor falter. The general public
and the international community should particularly note that we have been
unduly oppressed by this Buhari regime like none before it, and must be made to
take responsibility for its actions. It is now 882 days that our leader has
been languishing in detention despite a valid court order to free him, and
everybody knows justice delayed is justice denied,” the statement added.
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