In this interview with GODWIN ISENYO, the President, Media Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, Malam Ibrahim Musa, says Shi’ite members won’t bow to the alleged coercion of the government to prevent them from exercising their right to freedom of religion and worship

Can you narrate what happened  during your Ashura?

Two things happened during this year’s Ashura mourning in Kaduna State. As we joined our Shia brethren in the world, mourning the brutal killing of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad on Saturday, August 22, at Hayin Malam Bello neighbourhood in Kaduna, heavily armed policemen arrived on the scene. They fired live ammunition on the unarmed assembly that included women and children, killing three people on the spot and injuring at least a dozen. And in the middle of the night, they burnt five houses occupied by members of the Islamic Movement in the neighbourhood. Then on Sunday, August 30, heavily armed policemen opened fire in Zaria and Kaduna on religious mourners, soon after completing this year’s Ashura processions (a religious rite held by Shiites globally on the 10th of Muharram Islamic calendar). As a consequence of these unprovoked attacks, two people in Kaduna lost their lives, while many others were injured in both Kaduna and Zaria.

How did the killing occur?
The Ashura mourning march started from Gombe Road along Ahmadu Bello Way in the afternoon. Shortly afterwards, the police arrived and started shooting indiscriminately. Bashar Muhammad was instantly killed by the police and Muhammad Sani died of the gunshots he had on Tuesday, September 1. Several others are still nursing their gunshot wounds.

How were you accosted by the police?
Unlike in other saner climes, when the police arrived the scene of the peaceful procession, they didn’t use persuasive methods which the police are trained in using when containing protests. It seems they were on orders to kill as many Shiites as possible. If you see the video clip of the procession, it was full of gunshots fired by the police.

How many police officers were present there?

Our reporters on the ground couldn’t ascertain how many they were. But it was a contingent of policemen in several vehicles.

What did the police say to you during your procession?

Just like when these security agents harassment started from Zaria in December 2015, there was no discussion with us on why we were on a peaceful protest. All they were after was to spill as much blood as they could.

Were your members armed and did they attack the police?
Those who watched what happened on that fateful day of Ashura and others before it don’t carry arms in protests and gatherings. Had we carried arms, the fatalities would not always be on our side. Sheikh (Ibrahim) Zakzaky is a man of peace; he has never advocated the use of arms in his struggle for justice.

Where are the remains of those said to have been killed?

The first person killed was buried the following day, which was Monday, at Darur Rahma, a suburb of Zaria. The other person was buried two days later at Unguwar Mu’azu Cemetery in Kaduna. I think I should also mention that the police also killed a bystander during their shootings. He was from Hayin Banki, Kaduna.

Did the deceased have wives and children?

Muhammad Bashir, who was 38 years old, left behind a wife and three children. However, Muhammad Sani wasn’t married when the police shot him in the chest at close range and killed him.

How many of your members were in the procession?

We were in our hundreds as usual when the procession started. I don’t have a definite figure.

Why did you come out after the government said you had been proscribed?

We are not an association or a political party that can be banned by fiat. We are a religious movement bent on practising Islam. And I don’t think there is anything that can force us to renege on our religion. Nigeria Constitution has guaranteed us our right to religious belief and association, inasmuch as we are peaceful, which even our enemies believe we are. Remember also that there was no justification in proscribing us in the first instance. We are not violent in our activities. We don’t carry arms. We don’t destroy properties. So, why should we be proscribed? The authorities always claim we are violent. If that is the case, why are we always the victims of state-sponsored terrorism against us? In a nutshell, what I’m saying is, proscription cannot deter us from practising our belief. And we are currently in court, challenging the proscription order which was made without giving us a fair trial.

Some people feel you are very daring to still be coming out after your proscription, and that all the harassment could be avoided if you stopped having processions and protests. How would you respond to that?

I think those with that mindset should turn the scenario to our aggressors, those always coming to fire live ammunition at us. Why shouldn’t they stop that, since we are following our constitutional right and we are peaceful? Even in the United States of America, where Black Lives Matter protests are taking place, the police don’t just come out and start shooting citizens, even when the protests turn violent. Then why is our police behaving differently, when it comes to dealing with Shi’ite protests? Are we not Nigerian citizens? It is the government that should be prevailed upon to stop using disproportionate force against us, unarmed citizens. If they want to kill people, they should please go to Borno, Katsina, Southern Kaduna, Zamfara and Niger, where terrorists with better weapons are having a field day.

What can you say about the continued detention of your leader, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky and his wife?

I can only echo what the Federal High Court in Abuja said when it delivered its historic judgment on the detention of our leader, Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife, Malama Zeenah on December 2, 2016. It said his detention is unconstitutional, not known to any of our laws. Moreover, his health is deteriorating by the day; even this is good reason for the government to release him.

Do you plan to seek justice for your members that were killed?

For now, we are looking at how our lawyers can handle the situation. But certainly, the court of Allah, our creator, will surely deliver its judgment in this case. Those trampling upon our rights today shouldn’t assume they will be in governance forever. Surely, a reckoning day is coming.

How many of your members have been killed in Kaduna here?

If you are talking about what happened at this year’s Ashura, there were five of them. Three were killed while we gathered mourning, and two were killed while in mourning procession of the inhuman killing of Imam Husain.

There are pictures online of Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State with el-Zakzaky, in which they appear to be on good terms. What do you think changed and made the state government condemn your activities?

I think El-Rufai himself can answer that better. But from what we have read about him, former President (Olusegun) Obasanjo has already described him as someone who cannot be trusted. He can be on your side today and turn his back against you tomorrow. That’s el-Rufai for you.