27th August, 2024
PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC CONDEMNS SHIITE-POLICE KILLINGS
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned
the loss of lives including the killing of policemen and Shiite protesters
which occurred during the Shiite procession of Sunday, 25th August,
2024 in Abuja.
The group spoke on Tuesday, 27th August,
2024 through its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
He said:
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of lives
including two uniformed policemen which occurred during the Shiite procession
of Sunday, 25th August, 2024 in Abuja (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/08/25/two-policemen-killed-as-shiites-clash-with-police-in-fct/).
"MURIC
strongly condemns this avoidable loss of lives. Three patrol vehicles were seen
burning in a viral video clip. We denounce the burning of police patrol
vehicles. It is criminal, unpatriotic and barbaric. True to our avowed
motto, ‘Dialogue, No Violence’, we in MURIC are nonplussed by the level of
violence exhibited in Abuja last Sunday.
"The fact that policemen in uniform were
brutally attacked and killed points to the probability of the possession of lethal
weapons or harmful objects by some of those in the procession.
"This runs contrary to the general principle
of peaceful conduct, humility and the sacredness of human life as enunciated in
the Glorious Qur'an. Chapter 25 verse 63 recommends humility, calmness and
abiding by law and order for genuine servants of Allah. In like manner, chapter
6 verse 151 forbids the taking of human life except through established
authorities.
"The victims of the Abuja violence last
Sunday, both the two uniformed policemen and the civilians are husbands of some
women, fathers of some children, sons of some aged and weak fathers, brothers,
uncles and cousins to others. Without any doubt, some women have been
widowed while children have been orphaned.
"Shiites
must not emulate hoodlums who are in the habit of attacking security agents and
their facilities. It is only criminals who attack law enforcement agents
because they never want the latter to exist ab initio. Any attack on security
agents and their paraphernalia is also an attack on the Nigerian people whose
tax monies are used to buy equipment for the police, the army and other
security agencies.
"We are disturbed by the fact that the name
of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria otherwise known as Shiites has become a
recurring decimal in the cycle of violence between security agencies and
religious groups. This necessitates a review of activities of the Shiite group
in the country.
"We
believe that Shiite processions can still be peaceful and orderly particularly
with police protection to avoid infiltration. But this is only possible if it
is properly organized with police approval. Shiite processions and marches can
only be lawful if the organisers keep marchers on one side of the road leaving
enough space for other road users. On the Day of Judgement (yawm al-Qiyaamah ),
Allah will hold those who blocked the road responsible for the deaths of women
in labour, the sick being rushed to hospitals and other emergencies.
"In this respect, the Prophet (SAW) said, ‘There
is no harm or hardship (imposed upon you by Allah), therefore do not cause hardship
or harm on anyone' (Laa daraara falaa diraarah). It is a wakeup call and
the target audience is no other than the Muslims who are expected to avoid
doing anything likely to harm innocent people.
"On
the other hand, we are miffed by the use of lethal weapons on civilians by the
police. The global best practices is for law enforcement agencies to exercise
restraint, to use minimum force and to avoid possible loss of lives.
"We advise the Nigerian Police in particular
and all other security agencies in general, to be more proactive in the area of
prevention of violence. We want to see evidence of pre-D-Day dialogue and
persuasions between police authorities and groups who are preparing for
protests. Given the publicity enjoyed by the Shiite march before Sunday, we
expected the police to have been better prepared by mapping out strategies for
ensuring a violence-free Shiite procession last Sunday."
#ShiiteSimmerDown
#PoliceNoteGlobalBestPractices
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Founder/Executive Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC).
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