Quds Day: Shi’ites stage pro-Palestine demonstration in Bauchi

Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, popularly known as the Shi’ite group, on Friday staged a demonstration in Bauchi in support of Palestine.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Ahmad Yashi said the demonstration was part of activities marking Quds Day, which is observed on the last Friday of every Ramadan across the world.

He explained that the protest was aimed at showing solidarity with Palestinians, whom he said had been under invasion for decades

This is a known demonstration held on the last Friday of every month of Ramadan worldwide under the Quds Day platform. It is to show support and sympathy for Palestinians who have been under invasion for about eight decades,” he said.

The group, which is loyal to Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, made the remarks on the sidelines of the demonstration.

Yashi added that the demonstration had always been peaceful over the years, alleging that any breakdown of law and order in previous instances was usually caused by authorities due to what he described as a lack of understanding of the group’s activities.

The Bauchi State chapter of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria also reiterated its support for Iran amid the ongoing tensions involving the United States and Israel, stating that eliminating Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would only escalate the crisis.

Yashi said killing Iran’s Supreme Leader would not bring peace but would rather worsen the situation.

We are with Iran in heart and soul. They are targeting the Iranian Supreme Leader to make the country surrender, but they are mistaken. The Supreme Leader, as a religious authority, is among those dousing tensions,” he said.

He described Islam as a religion of peace but blamed Western powers for what he termed persistent global unrest.

“Islam is a peaceful religion, but the West is the problem. They are selfish and want everyone to bow to them. This will not happen; those days are gone,” he added.

Yashi also disclosed that members of the movement in Bauchi had earlier staged a peaceful demonstration in solidarity with Iran.

“We conducted a peaceful demonstration in support of Iran, and every Muslim must take a side in this war. You are either with the righteous or with the oppressors,” he stated.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Bauchi State Police Command, Nafiu Habib, said the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, had ordered the deployment of personnel to protect government facilities across the metropolis ahead of the demonstration.

He noted that security operatives monitored the protest to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

According to him, the demonstration was conducted peacefully without any reported incident.

“Until now, there is no report of any breakdown of law and order,” he added

Culled from punch