Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria (ADS) yesterday expressed reservation over the silence of Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose over the attack of Muslims in a mosque during Iftar (Breaking of fast).
ADS National Missioner Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad addressed reporters yesterday at Ajao, Surulere National Secretariat.
He said “Whoever keeps silence in the face of injustice is himself unjust.”
No fewer than five Muslims were injured and properties damaged when some masqueraders attacked the Ansar-ud-Deen Society’s mosque at Ikun-Ekiti last Tuesday.
Sheikh Ahmad, who explained that the matter has been reported to the governor through his religious adviser, said the society was “uncomfortable with this kind of silence.
“As an Islamic organisation, we would have condemned this kind of attack on any other person or organisations, even Christians. Whoever keeps silence in the face of injustice is himself unjust.
“He (the Governor) would be in the best position to explain his silence. Given the antecedents of the Governor of Ekiti State, the society trusts that he will make a statement very soon. We are sure that he will not disappoint us.”
The matter, he said, has also been reported to Inspector-General of Police (IGP) through the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone.
He warned that the matter should not be swept under the carpet because it could lead to anarchy.
While condemning the attack, the Islamic scholar wondered why Muslims would be denied their freedom of movement and religion.
He demanded that the perpetrators of the act be arrested and tried in accordance with the law.
He said: “It is painful that somebody can be attacked for professing a particular religion. We have it that the town’s monarch decreed that during the Egungun festival, Muslims should not go to mosque and must not make call to prayer. This is against the constitution which guarantees freedom of religion and movement. The monarch’s decree infringed upon the fundamental human rights of the Muslims. It is draconian and unheard of at a time the faithful were supposed to be called for prayer and break their fast
“We even complied substantially by asking the females to pray at home. They still attacked us at a point where we were breaking our fast and laid siege on us for over five hours.
“They broke the door, broke the window, vandalised things in the mosque, attacked the worshippers, macheted our Imam with cutlass, and also destroyed his car. This is worrisome to us that some people will be punished because of their religion. The monarch who ordered the attack should not be superior to the law. Should the monarch’s go unpunished, it could snowball into a national crisis.
“The Muslims in Ikun-Ekiti are being persecuted. They are not settlers, they are indigenes who speak same language with the masqueraders. Some are even relatives. Even if they are non-indigenes, the law does not permit indigenes to attack them.
“Ansar-Ud-Deen has a long history in the state and have always been peaceful. The branch was inaugurated since 1950. There must be proper investigation. If this goes without adequate investigation and prosecution of those who perpetuated this dastardly act, it will be great injustice.”
Ahmad, who noted that other Islamic organisations have intervened, challenged Ekiti State Government to show its concern for citizen’s protection by not shielding the perpetrators.
“Government must intervene, prosecute the perpetrators and help recover the losses. The government must prove that it is up to its responsibility of protecting citizens. Whoever has done this deserved to be punished. We are punished because we adhered to the law; if government does not intervene, it means that it is the government that punished us.
“Top Islamic organisations like the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Muslim Ummah of Southwest Nigeria (MUSWEN) among others are involved already. It is not possible for a thing like this to happen without litigation if the aggressors show no convincing remorse.”
