US Govt Says El-Zakzaky, Wife Zeena Are Political Prisoners

The United States has described the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, Sheikh Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, and his wife, Zeenah, as political prisoners

This was contained in the 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices published by the US State Department on Human rights on Tuesday.

The report read in part, “Political prisoners and detainees. IMN’s leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, and his spouse remained in detention. In 2018 the Kaduna State Government charged Zakzaky in state court with multiple felonies stemming from the death of a soldier at Zaria.”

El-Zakzaky and his wife are facing trial on an eight-count charge bordering alleged culpable homicide, unlawful assembly and disruption of the public peace among other charges, to which they both pleaded not guilty on Sept. 29, 2020.

Both of them are being detained at the Nigerian Correctional facility in Kaduna State on the orders of the court.

The Islamic Movement of Nigeria, IMN, has however promised to continue to demand the unconditional release of its leader and his wife.

The Chairman of the Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Prof Abdullahi Danladi said the continue detention of the Shi’ites leader and others despite court orders freeing them four years ago and calls from international human rights groups is one of the worst human rights violations.

Newswirengr.com