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Tag: Islamic group

  • Islamic group gets Chief Missioner

    Islamic group gets Chief Missioner

    By Sherifdeen Amusa

    Anwar-ul-Islam Movement of Nigeria has appointed Sheikh Musliudeen Afisi as the National Chief Imam/Missioner.

    The association also conferred a merit award on the outgoing National President, Alhaji Mubashir Ojelade.

    At an elaborate Turbaning and Award event held at the Jubril Martins Memorial High School Hall, Iponri, Lagos as part of the Anwar-ul-Islam 2025 Annual Conference, the Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Dr. Taliat Ayilara, lauded the movement for its role in advancing education and Da’wah.

    Addressing the Chief Imam/Missioner, Sheikh Ayilara stressed that the primary duty of an Imam is to guide people to the worship of Allah alone and steer them away from transgression and falsehood.

    He reminded the audience that leadership in Islam is a divine trust, not an opportunity for personal gain or position. He urged Imam Afisi and other Imams to remain firm, just, humble and constantly guiding their followers towards moral uprightness.

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    Imam Afisi reflected on the weight of the responsibility placed upon him, describing his appointment as both “overwhelming and unexpected.”

    “I never imagined myself becoming the Chief Imam. I didn’t attend Islamic school with that goal in mind. Even when the idea was suggested, I rejected it several times. But ultimately, Allah’s will prevailed,” he said.

    He recounted his long-standing service in the organisation, saying he was born into the movement and had served in several capacities, including serving as Personal Assistant to the immediate past Chief Missioner and as the pioneer Secretary of the Hajj Committee in the 1990s.

    “I remained active within the missionary body for almost two decades before work took me out of Lagos. Now that I am back, I thank Allah for this opportunity to serve,” he said.

    Alhaji Ojelade thanked Allah and acknowledged the collective efforts that led to the success of the four-day national conference and turbaning.

    Reflecting on his nine-year tenure, Alhaji Ojelade noted key achievements, particularly in education. “Our secondary schools are now in a much better state. We’ve taken bold steps, and I believe the next administration will surpass us,” he stated.

  • Two policemen killed during clash with Islamic group in FCT

    Two policemen killed during clash with Islamic group in FCT

    • Three policemen critically injured, 3 patrol vans torched
    • 52 El-Zakzaky’s men arrested

    Two policemen were killed and three others critically injured during a clash yesterday between security men and members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ite, in Abuja.

    The Islamic group, led by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky, frequently clashes with security men usually during processions held by the group to celebrate some events on their religious calendar, leading to violence and deaths.

    After one such incident, the group was proscribed on July 26, 2019, by the Muhammadu Buhari Administration.

    According to the police account, the Shi’ites in the procession were armed with various weapons with which they attacked a police checkpoint, burning three vans.

    This resulted in exchanges between them and policemen at the popular Julius Berge junction of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    But the group contradicted the police, saying their men in the procession did not carry any ammunition and were peaceful.

    FCT police commissioner, Benneth Igweh, said 52 members of the group were arrested after the violent confrontation, adding that they would be charged.

    He promised that the police would not leave any stone unturned in curbing the activities of the Shi’ites.

    The FCT Command spokesman, Josephine Adeh, a Superintendent of Police, gave an account of the attack in a statement.

    She said: “Two police officers died, three others are unconscious and receiving treatment at a hospital, and three patrol vehicles were destroyed.

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    “The proscribed group attacked the police checkpoint unprovoked.

    “Several arrests have been made, and Benneth Igweh, the Commissioner of Police, has condemned the attack, vowing to bring those responsible to justice.

    “The situation is currently under control, and normalcy has been restored to the area.

    “For now, the FCT Police Command remains on high alert, closely monitoring the situation to prevent any further outbreaks of violence.”

    But the Shi’ite group gave a different picture of what happened.

    Its spokesman, Sheikh Sidi Munir Mainasara Sokoto, said in a statement: “We wish to inform the public that police have attacked the ongoing Arba’een Symbolic Trek at Wuse District in Abuja and killed mourners.

    “While trying to disperse the Arbaeen Trek, the police killed and injured numerous mourners.

    “Presently, security agents are busy arresting the Arbaeen Trek mourners.

    “Medical practitioners are attending to those critically injured, and details of those killed, injured, and arrested will be made available to members of the press in due course.

    “Before the commencement of the trek, we searched all participants to ensure no infiltration, and the programme will end as scheduled.”

    According to him, the Arbeen walk which was staged on Saturday at the Masaka and Zuba axis of the capital city, ended peacefully and successfully.

    The IMN, which has its headquarters in Zaria, Kaduna State, is affiliated with the Shi’ite Islamic sect which has its roots in Iran.

  • Indonesia to disband Islamic group seeking global caliphate

    Indonesia is taking steps to disband the local chapter of an international Islamic group that seeks to unite Muslim countries under a caliphate.

    Top security minister Wiranto said Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia’s activities were not in line with the state religious ideology, which is known as Pancasila, and were “causing friction in society.”

    “After a careful consideration, the government deems it necessary to take legal action to disband Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia throughout Indonesia,” said Wiranto, who goes by one name.

    Hizbut Tahrir, which says that it uses non-violent means to achieve its goal for a caliphate, is active in Australia and Britain, but is banned in several Middle Eastern and Central Asian countries.

    A Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia spokesman could not be reached for comment.

    Leaders of Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia were among the proponents of massive rallies seeking the prosecution of Jakarta’s Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, for remarks about the Koran that some Muslims deem blasphemous.

    Purnama, a key ally of President Joko Widodo and the first Christian to lead the capital in 50 years, went on trial on charges of blasphemy while seeking re-election in last month’s gubernatorial election.

    He lost to a Muslim rival, Anies Baswedan.

    Judges are scheduled to deliver a verdict in the blasphemy case on Tuesday.

    Prosecutors have sought a one-year suspended sentence.

    Indonesia is the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, but Christians make up about 10 per cent of the country’s 250 million people.

  • Praises for Aregbesola

    Praises for Aregbesola

    An  Islamic organisation in Nigeria, Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen, has lauded Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for his achievements in the last six years.
    Speaking at the group’s yearly conference in Iwo, the Founder and National President, of the organization, Sheik Daood Molasan, said that the Aregbesola administration has demonstrated good faith with the people and added meaning to governance.
    The islamic cleric, who described education as a veritable tool to success, commended the state government under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola for being determined to develop education.
    He said the state has done a lot in giving a new face to education sector, saying this “has really helped to development basic and high education.”
    “We are not politicians but we appreciate all what Governor Aregbesola has been doing to liberate our state and develop our economy. Osun government has done so much in education and other sectors as its impacts in all these can never be left unrecognised.”
    He, therefore, called on muslims who are financially endowed to spend their wealth for the propagation of Islam, saying “man is created by God majorly to serve Him with all his endowments.”
    Sheik Molasan said the purpose of the conference is to guide muslims to the path of righteousness, warn them against forbidden acts as being commanded by Allah and His Messengers.
    Governor Aregbesola who was represented at the event by the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Hon Najeem Salam, described knowledge as a quintessential mechanism to survival.
    He said: “it is high time for everyone to seek and pay whatever price to enhance the acquisition of western knowledge.”
    The Governor who titled his speech, “Towards an Inclusive Good Youruba and Good Muslim,” enjoined religious leaders on the need to dwell more on scientific knowledge, which according to him has redefined the world.
    According to him, it is only those with sophisticated religious and western knowledge combined would seamlessly scape through the worldly emerging circumstances. END

  • Islamic group seeks Muslims’ defence of Christians against Boko Haram attacks

    The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) yesterday asked Muslims all over the country to defend Christians against Boko Haram, in the wake of threat by the new leader of the sect, Abu  Mus’ab al-Barnawi,  to “blow up every church and kill all Christians”.

    Al-Barnawi’s appointment was announced on Thursday by IS.

    Responding to the Boko Haram’s threat, the Muric director, Ishaq Akintola, said Muslims owe it a duty to demonstrate solidarity with their Christian neighbours by preventing Boko Haram fighters from attacking Christians.

    MURIC described the Boko Haram hate speech as totally despicable and exceptionally criminal.

    “Islam is love, not hatred. Islam gives life, not death. It builds and does not destroy. The Glorious Qur’an only allows Muslims to fight in self-defence (Qur’an 2:190). It forbids unjust and unlawful killing (Qur’an 6:151). It compares anyone who kills his fellow man to one who kills all homo sapiens (Qur’an 5:32),” he said.

    He added: “We remind the Boko Haram coercion ideologues of the moderate posture of the Glorious Qur’an towards non-Muslims. Qur’an 2:256 says there should be no compulsion in religion (Laa ikraahun fil diin).

    “Qur’an 10:99 completely sweeps the carpet off the feet of agents of belligerence as it declares, ‘So you forcefully compel people to believe in Allah? But they would all have believed if Allah had wanted it so!’

    “Our differences in matters of faith are therefore part of the deliberate and grand design of the Divine Creator. Allah also affirms in Qur’an 11:118 that there would still have been differences even if the whole world follows a single religion. So what is special about belonging to a particular religion if we do not share love?

    “This is why Allah reminded Prophet Muhammad to limit his mission to reminding people and never to make any attempt at controlling people’s lives (Qur’an 88:21 – 22)

  • Zaria clash: Shi’ites drag Army to International Court

    Zaria clash: Shi’ites drag Army to International Court

    Members of Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shiites, Mondey said that they have dragged the Nigerian Army to International Criminal Court (ICC) in Hague for alleged war crimes in the December 2015 clash with its members in Zaria.

    Addressing the press, media spokesman of the Islamic group, Ibrahim Musa said the Zaria clash was a war against the Shiites where over 1000 of them were allegedly killed by the Army.

    The International Criminal Court (ICC), located in Hague, is believed to be the court of last resort for prosecution of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

    According to Musa, “International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has on behalf of Shiites called on the International Criminal Court to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year.

    “In the filing submitted to the ICC Tuesday IHRC writes: “The crimes committed between the 12th and 14th December 2015 in Zaria, Kaduna State, by the Nigerian army amount to crimes against humanity. The crimes committed by the Nigerian army meet all the necessary legal requirements to warrant a preliminary investigation by the ICC prosecutor.”

    “The International Criminal Court is being urged to investigate the massacre of nearly 1000 civilians in Nigeria last December at the hands of the country’s armed forces.

    “IHRC has called on the international tribunal which has a mandate to prosecute people for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, to open a preliminary enquiry into the events in Zaria last year in which soldiers attacked the Islamic Movement of Nigeria’s (IMN) supporters, symbols and property.

    “The assault over two days in the northern Nigerian city left a trail of bloodshed and destruction including the shooting of the movement’s leader Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky and his wife Zeenat. Both are currently believed to be in military custody, detained without charge.

    “Information obtained by IHRC indicates that 217 people were confirmed killed in the attacks, another 219 are in detention, and 482 are still missing. The number of injured is believed to run into many hundreds. IHRC’s filing to the ICC is largely based on eye-witness evidence of the army’s assault.

    “The majority of deaths were caused by gunshots fired by soldiers. Cases of people being burnt alive have also emerged. Injuries caused by machetes or other knife wounds have also been found on the corpses, and could be the work of the criminal groups that perpetrated acts of looting and mutilation alongside the military. Signs of torture and electrocution have been evidenced on the body of the IMN leader Sheikh Zakzaky and other detainees, two of whom died as a result thereof.

    “Sexual violence has also been reported, including cases of rape against women affiliates of the IMN. A 14-year old female witness told IHRC that the military shot her in her private parts when she resisted attempts by soldiers to rape her. Some women reportedly had their breasts cut off and others were deliberately shot in the pelvic region damaging their uteri.

    “Photographic evidence has been obtained along with testimonies of mass graves where the army is reported to have buried fatalities from the killing spree. Some corpses were allegedly incinerated, apparently in order to conceal any evidence.

    “In its submission IHRC says that the evidence suggests that the army’s assault was a systematic and pre-planned attempt to snuff out the IMN whose growing popularity have made it a thorn in the side of Nigerian governments.

    “A similar army assault in July 2014 during a religious preocession led to the deaths of 34 IMN members including three sons of Sheikh Zakzaky who were apparently singled out for execution.

    “During the December’s violence soldiers were seen celebrating and chanting slogans against the IMN, such as ‘we have finished with the Shia and Zakzaky’ and ‘no more Shias in Nigeria’. Although the IMN has support among Nigeria’s Sunnis and Shias it is often portrayed by its detractors as a Shia organisation.

    “During the violence soldiers used automatic weapons, explosives and armoured vehicles against unarmed civilians. This, along with the destruction of places of worship, graves and other buildings associated with the IMN, appears to support the contention that the attack was aimed at fatally damaging or eliminating the IMN.

    “Although the state government in Kaduna has set up a Judicial Commission of Inquiry IHRC believes it is insufficiently independent and impartial to be able to hold those responsible to account, nor is there any reasonable prospect of any prosecutions.

    “In his speech announcing the inquiry state governor Malam Nasir el-Rufai listed a range of grievances against the IMN, which is indicative of bias against the IMN from the start. He was also responsible for demolishing IMN properties before setting up the commission of inquiry,” he said.

     

  • Islamic group sets up college in Osun

    An Islamic group in Osun State, Jama’tu Ta’wunil Muslimeen Society of Nigeria, has established a College of Education, A-Hummah College of Education (UMCOED), in Iwo.

    Laying the foundation stone of the college in Oguro, Governor Rauf Aregbesola urged Muslims to develop a good character. He said faith without good character is nothing in Islam.

    The governor said: “If God needs only faith, he would not have created human beings, because angels have more faith than humans.”

    He said: “I advise Muslims to stop building mosques because there are enough mosques in the country. We should repair and maintain the existing ones.

    “To preach Islam, Muslims need to build a house of knowledge, as Islam compels every Muslim to seek knowledge at all cost.

    “Islam is knowledge. What differentiates human beings from animals is knowledge.”

    Aregbesola urged Muslims to support the project.

    He urged the proprietor and the Implementation Committee of the college to establish an Institute of Bilingual Studies, where short-term training on Arabic and English languages would be offered before the project is completed.

    The Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Prof. Alagbe Gbolagade, said the establishment of the institution is to improve education.

    He said: “The proposed College of Education will be for the benefit of the Muslim Ummah, in particular and all Nigerians in general. The mission of the college is to produce morally upright teachers and increase the number of Islamic and Arabic teachers in government schools.

    “The vision is to serve as a centre where knowledge would be developed for development. The college will have five schools – Arts, Languages, Sciences, Social Sciences, Business Education and Vocational Studies.

    “However, we would like to start with two productive schools that will involve entrepreneurship studies.”

    The National President of the group, Sheikh Daood Imarn Molaasan, urged the government, individuals and organisations to support the project.

    He hailed the governor on the state’s logo and anthem, saying they would promote the Yoruba culture.