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Police attack Arba'een march in Nigeria

Danjuma Abdollahi 
Press TV, Abuja

Nigerian police attacked the symbolic annual Arba'een march in Abuja on Friday. 

Police used teargas and live rounds to disperse the followers of Sheikh Zakzaky as soon as the march started.

Despite the crackdown, people participated in the mourning procession, but many were arrested. 

Supporters of Sheikh Zakzaky condemned the attack on their religious procession, saying they only wanted to remember the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, his household and companion in Karbala at the hands of the tyrant of the time some 1,400 years ago. 

Arbaeen marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein in Karbala.

The Nigerian government has banned the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, describing it as a terrorist group.

The Islamic Movement challenged the ban in court in July 2019 saying its right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion has been violated.

Amnesty International and some other rights groups in Nigeria have condemned the proscription of the Islamic Movement.

 


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