The member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom said that the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs must use its leverage to free Shaykh Zakzaky and added, “Islamic governments are responsible for Shaykh Zakzaky.” RNA – In an interview with Rasa News Agency, Ayatollah Najmoddin Tabasi, a member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom, said that Shaykh Ibrahim Zakzaky is one of the most influential Shi’ah scholars in the world and added, “He is very popular among the Muslims in Nigeria, in particular Shi’ahs and the followers of the Ahl al-Bayt, and even among the followers of other religions.”
The teacher in the Islamic Seminary of Qom described Shaykh Zakzaky as a popular person who was loved by the people and said, “The valuable services of Shaykh Zakzaky to the Muslims of Africa and Nigeria aren’t hidden for anyone and if the Nigerian government was wise and independent and not under the influence of the dollars of the medieval Arabs and the Wahhabis of the House Saud, they would honour such a personality.”
Stating that the Nigerian government must thank God that a prominent and noble person such as Shaykh Zakzaky is present in their country, he said, “Unfortunately, some of the obstinate governments take orders from abroad and their eyes of greed look toward the dollars of the barbaric Saudi rulers and disregard the wishes of their people.”
Pointing out that Shaykh Zakzaky is a popular personality, Ayatollah Tabasi expressed, “We are confident that the atrocities committed by the Nigerian government against Shaykh Zakzaky aren’t considered as acceptable by the people and the Nigerian government must respect the demands of the people and Muslims of the country and bow down to their demands.”
The member of the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom stated that the Nigerian government must release Shaykh Zakzaky and apologize to him and added, “Freeing this educated scholar is the minimal act that the Nigerian government can do. The spiritual damage done to this great scholar isn’t compensable. The Nigerian government has oppressed this great man for several years and has imprisoned him.”
He stressed that the Nigerian government is a faceless and mercenary government of foreign governments and emphasized, “If the Nigerian government has influence and power, it must stop the underground and the bloodthirsty organizations like Boko Haram, who are not merciful to anyone. The programs, such as mourning ceremonies and the International al-Quds Day rallies, that the Shi’ahs of Nigeria held under the leadership of Shaykh Zakzaky aren’t dangerous to anyone and there is no reason to impose pressure on Muslims.”
Emphasizing that today, Islamic governments and Muslim communities are responsible for Shaykh Zakzaky, Ayatollah Tabasi said, “Governments that consider themselves as defending the rights of Muslims must take positions in favour of this great man and support him.”
His Eminence said, “Some Arab rulers take positions as soon as Saudi interests are in jeopardy, or when Ansarullah defends their homeland [Yemen] by launching missiles at some areas of Saudi Arabia, they immediately blame them but they didn’t even accuse the Zionists for their crimes committed in Yemen over the past four years.”
He stated that we complain about organizations that regard themselves as Islamic and which don’t do anything to protect the oppressed Shi’ahs of Nigeria and their leader and stressed, “Today, Islamic organizations must demonstrate their own will and self-determination.”
Ayatollah Tabasi added that the Islamic Republic, as it did in the past, must declare a position in support of the oppressed, said, “We expect the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take a position in support of Shaykh Zakzaky and the oppressed Shi’ahs of Nigeria and use the necessary leverage to save them.”
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