Ibrahim Zakzaky

Sheikh Allamah
Ibrahim Yaqoub Zakzaky

Ibrahim Zakzaky in 2013
Born (1953-05-05) 5 May 1953
Zaria, Nigeria
Residence Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria
Nationality Nigerian
Education Economics
Alma mater Ahmadu Bello University
Years active 1979–present
Known for Founder of Islamic Movement in Nigeria
Religion Shia Islam
Spouse(s) Zeenah Ibrahim
Children
Website www.islamicmovement.org

Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky (alternately Ibraheem Zakzaky; Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky) (born May 5, 1953) is an outspoken Shi'a Muslim cleric in Nigeria, and head of Nigeria's Islamic Movement (IMN).[3] Zakzaky founded Islamic Movement in late 1970s when he was a student at Ahmadu Bello University and began propagating Shia Islam around 1979, at the time of the Iranian revolution—which saw Iran’s monarchy overthrown and replaced with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Khomeini. Zakzaky believed that the establishment of a republic along similar religious lines in Nigeria would be feasible. He has been detained several times due to accusations of civil disobedience or recalcitrance under military regimes in Nigeria during the 1980s and 1990s and is still viewed with suspicion or as a threat by Nigerian authorities.[4] In December 2015 Nigerian Army raided his residence in Zaria, massacred hundreds of his followers and since then he remained under state detention in the nation's capital.[5]

Early life and Education

Ibrahim Zakzaky was born on 5 May 1953 (15 Sha’ban 1372 AH), in Zaria, Kaduna State. He attended the Provincial Arabic School, Zaria (1969-1970), the School for Arabic Studies, Kano from 1971-1976 where he obtained the ‘Grade II’ Certificate, and the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria (1976-1979) where he bagged first class bachelor's degree in Economics. The degree was denied to him by the university authorities due to his Islamic activities.[6] During his university days, He was active in students Islamic unionism where he became the secretary-general of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in the Main Campus of the university (1977/78), and later became Vice President (International Affairs) of the National Body of the MSSN in 1979.[7] He is married to Zeenah and with whom he had six children.[8]

Sheikh Zakzaky giving lecture at ABU's mosque in 1990s.

Islamic Movement in Nigeria

Ibrahim Zakzaky is the primary figure and spiritual leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (fomerly: Muslim Brothers[9]), Africa’s most prominent Shi'a Muslim movement. Of Nigeria’s 180 million population, around 50 percent is Muslim, a small minority of which belong to Shi'a Islam. According to Nnamdi Obasi, Senior Analyst on Nigeria at the International Crisis Group (ICG), the IMN’s goals are twofold: “to ensure more stringent application of Islamic legal and administrative systems...then ultimately to create an Islamic state in Nigeria.”[10] Dr Iqbal Siddiqui described El-Zakzaky as "the de facto leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria".[11]

Political alignment and activities

The Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) held a symposium on "The Creation of the Illegal State of Israel" at Arewa House Kaduna on May 21, 2008. Zakzaky said,

when Israel is celebrating sixty years of occupying Palestine's land, we are mourning because the truth is Israeli State is created on the basis of terrorism and what is not yours is not yours, no matter years of oppression and hostage it would slip someday along with those supporting them. Israel will fall with her allies certainly.[12]

Nigerian army attacks against the movement

Zaria Quds day massacre

Main article: Zaria Quds Massacres

On Friday 25 July 2014, the Nigerian Army reportedly shot 35 followers of Ibrahim Zakzaky including his three sons[13] after pro-Palestinian procession in Zaria. The UK Islamic Human Rights Commission published the report Zaria Massacres and the Role of the Military in October 2014.[14]

2015 Zaria massacre

Sheikh al-Zakzaky was injured and arrested in the 2015 Zaria massacre.[15] Currently, he has only 3 of his children (one son and two daughters) alive. Six of his sons have been killed in a period between 2014 to 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ibrahim Zakzaky.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Sheikh Zakzaky’s 3 sons, 9 others died in Nigerian troops, Shiite Muslims Clash". Vanguard Newspaper. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Three sons of Zakzaky killed in Nigeria massacre: Rights group". Press TV. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  3. ↑ Nigeria's firebrand Muslim leaders BBC News, 1 October 2001.
  4. ↑ "Who is Sheikh Zakzaky, Nigeria’s Most Powerful Shiite Muslim?". Newsweek Magazine. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Family Of Sheikh Zakzaky Unclear If He Is Dead Or Unwell, According To Family Sources". Sahara Reporters. 17 Dec 2015.
  6. ↑ "Biography of Mu'allim Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky". Bregava.tripod.com. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  7. ↑ "Official Website Of The Islamic Movement In Nigeria". Islamicmovement.org. 1953-05-05. Retrieved 2011-03-20.
  8. ↑ "Biography of Sheikh Zakzaky". Official Website of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. 18 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Michael Olufemi Sodipo (2013). "Mitigating Radicalism in Northern Nigeria" (PDF). p. 3. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "Who is Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky?". Newsweek Magazine. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  11. ↑ Archived November 19, 2006, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Israeli State Would Crumble, Says Zakzaky (Page 1 of 1)
  13. ↑ Punch Newspaper. "Soldiers killed three Elzakzaky sons, 32 others.". Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  14. ↑ "IHRC. Zaria Quds Massacre: The role of the Military". IHRC United Kingdom. October 2014. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  15. 1 2 http://army.mil.ng/Press-Release.html
  16. ↑ http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/12/armyshiite-clash-i-escaped-by-the-will-of-god-buratai/
  17. ↑ http://www.tvcnews.tv/?q=article/nigerian-army-chief-escapes-assassination-attempt-zaria
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