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Iran urges Nigeria to release and send El-Zakzaky over for treatment
The Iranian government has pleaded with the Nigerian government and its judiciary to release and send the leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, to Iran for medical treatment.
The plea was contained in a recent letter reportedly sent to the Nigerian government by the Prosecutor-General (Attorney-General) of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mohammed Montazeri.
An Iran-based news organisation, AhlulBayt News Agency, said Montazeri wrote the letter since last Saturday.
The letter read in part, “I, as the prosecutor general of the Islamic Republic of Iran, urge the Nigerian judicial authorities (to take steps) in line with their judicial independence and support for a captive citizen, and provide the ground for his release and transfer him to the Islamic Republic of Iran for treatment.”
El-Zakzaky and wife have been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since 2015 after his members clashed with the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Tukur Buratai.
More than 300 of his followers, including three of his sons, were reportedly killed in the violence that ensued as a result of the clash.
Despite court rulings ordering his release, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has refused to release El-Zakzakky.
The cleric has been kept in custody along with his wife and a large number of his followers ever since.
READ ALSO : ‘He’s loyal, his brother is an ex-senator, no question, take a bow’, Senate tells ministerial nominee
El-Zakzky’s followers have for the last two years been holding protests mainly in Abuja, calling for his immediate release.
Protest by his members in Abuja on Monday claimed some casualties, including members of the Islamic group, a reporter with Channels Television and a Deputy Commissioner of Police.
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