The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, has called on the federal government to release the international passport of its leader, Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky, to enable him to travel abroad for medical treatment.
Zakzaky, who has been in detention since December 2015, was granted bail by the Kaduna State High Court in 2018 to travel to India for medical treatment but the trip was aborted due to alleged interference by the federal government.
The group’s spokesman, Ibrahim Musa, in a statement on Thursday, accused the government of deliberately keeping Zakzaky in detention and denying him access to proper medical treatment.
Musa also called on the government to respect the court’s ruling and release Zakzaky, stating that his continued detention is a violation of his fundamental human rights.
He further expressed concern over the deteriorating health condition of Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, who have both been in detention since 2015.
The Shiites have staged several protests in the past to demand the release of their leader and his wife, with some turning violent, leading to clashes with security forces.
The federal government has accused the group of being a security threat and banned its activities in Nigeria, a move that has been criticized by human rights groups.
