The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has justified the protests staged by its members in solidarity with Iran, describing the demonstrations as a peaceful expression of its longstanding opposition to what it called aggression against Muslim nations.
The group also criticised what it termed hostile actions involving Israel and the United States, arguing that attacks on religious or political leaders contravene international norms and principles of natural justice.
Speaking with *PUNCH Online* in Kaduna on Wednesday, the President of the movement’s Media Forum, Ammar Muhammad, said the protests across parts of northern Nigeria were prompted by alleged actions involving Israel and the United States against Iran.
According to him, the demonstrations were not defensive but aimed at clarifying the group’s position and correcting what it described as widespread misconceptions.
“The public should understand that this protest is a peaceful reaffirmation of our historic stand against oppression and injustice,” he said.
Muhammad added that the movement, led by Ibraheem Zakzaky, has for nearly five decades focused on advocacy, religious teachings and raising awareness on justice and social reform.
He explained that the IMN promotes what it considers a just social order based on Islamic principles and has consistently aligned itself with oppressed communities worldwide.
The spokesperson further alleged that global powers, particularly Western nations, have played roles in the geopolitical challenges facing Muslims, Africans and developing countries, adding that internal divisions within nations often serve the strategic interests of dominant actors.
Muhammad maintained that the group’s solidarity with Iran is consistent with its historical posture of condemning aggression against Muslim countries and other marginalised communities.
While acknowledging that many of its members are Shi’a Muslims, he insisted that the IMN should not be seen purely as a sectarian body but as a broader ideological movement accommodating people from diverse backgrounds.
He noted that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, holds both political and religious significance in Shi’a Islam, comparing his spiritual authority to that of the Pope in the Catholic Church.
Muhammad emphasised that the protests were peaceful and intended solely to express solidarity and register grievances without resorting to violence.
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