4th anniversary of Zaria massacre marked in Tehran

Ghanbar Naderi
Press TV, Tehran


On Sunday, human rights groups marked the fourth anniversary since the Zaria massacre in Nigeria by the Nigerian army, and the unlawful detention of Sheikh Ibraheem el-Zakzaky and his wife Muallima Zeenah, with a press conference in Tehran to demand justice for the martyrs and freedom for Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife.

Addressing reporters, the daughter of Sheikh Zakzaky said in the 48 hours between December of 12 to 14 the Nigerian army massacred over 1000 Shia residents of Zaria.

Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife Zeenah were both shot and abducted without charge, their three sons were murdered in the attack and their home was destroyed, as was the graves of the Sheikh's parents. The army burnt the community's mosque to the ground and demolished their cemetery.

The daughter of Sheikh Zakzaky said the majority of deaths were caused by gunshots fired by soldiers. She also said some were burnt alive or hacked to death, and called for justice for the victims.

Back in August Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife travelled to India to receive medical treatment as his health condition was deteriorating in detention. But he returned to Nigeria a few days later after rejecting the Nigerian government's "obstruction" of his treatment.

Nigerian authorities have transferred Sheikh Zakzaky and his wife to a prison, where many detainees have so far died due to lack of medical attention. They have been kept in custody along with a large number of followers ever since.

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