Claim that America frustrates El-Zakzaky is unfounded

A claim attributed to the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has been made of how America has been frustrating El-Zakzaky’s treatment in India. Such claim seems to have no basis. In fact, it reflects total ignorance about the international interest in the Nigerian Shiites problems. It further highlights the unfortunate predicament of the Nigerian Shiites.

The IMN is spiritually allied to Iran just as the Nigerian Sunni Muslims are spiritually allied to Saudi Arabia. It is therefore expected that IMN would try to impress its master, Iran, by lashing out against America at a time of grave tension between America and Iran.

It must be noted that when the Nigerian Government used the Military to suppress the Shiites last year, America led the world in condemning Nigeria and cutting off cooperation with the Nigerian Military.

It was the pressure from countries like America that forced the Nigerian Government not to use the Military last month when the Shiites had their protest that led to the death of a Deputy Commissioner of Police, ultimately resulting in the release of El-Zakzaky.

If American Government was against El-Zakzaky, Nigerian Government would not have relaxed its stance on his detention. It would have been easier to keep him in Nigeria and frustrate him where he is hated by the government than to wait for him to get to India.

This raises an important point. The IMN should learn from its recent experience. Many people from different religious groups came out in support of El-Zakzaky. It will be unfortunate if the IMN reboxes itself back into old religious wars. There is no need to drag America into its problems except to impress Iran and get more favors from Iran.