* 8 Muslim bodies for Palestinian solidarity match Saturday, August 17
The Muslim Awareness International (MAI) has unveiled activities to mark this year’s Aqsa Day, with the introduction of a charity football match in solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine.
The details were unveiled in a press statement jointly signed on Wednesday, August 14, by MAI Director, Surv. Abdul Waheed Atoyebi and Aqsa Day 2024 Chairman, Planning Committee, Dada Yakeen
The statement, a copy of which was received by Muslim News, revealed that the Aqsa Day events will commence on Saturday, August 17 with a solidarity football match for Palestine and climax on Monday, September 16, with a public lecture to be delivered by former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode.
Solidarity match will parade eight teams
Muslim News gathered that the tournament incorporated for the first time to highlight the Palestinian cause will feature male football teams from eight different students’ and religious bodies across Nigeria.
Soccer fans and supporters of the Palestinian cause will be treated to a thrilling game as The Muslim Congress (TMC) clashes with Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit; YABATECH MSSN against UNILAG MSSN and
At-taw’iyyah Madrasah students vs TYM on Saturday, August 17 at the popular Evans Square playing ground Ebute-Metta area of Lagos at 10:00 a.m (Nigerian Time).
The spectacular leather game meant to demonstrate the power of sports in bridging divides will resume on 24 August, as Muslim Lawyers’ Association, MULAN, faces Muslim Teachers’ Association, MUTAN; while Muslim Media Practitioners clashes with another Muslim body at the same venue, same time.
FFK, Akintola, Buna, Shafi’i others for Aqsa Day lecture, panel discussion
The Aqsa Day events will be concluded on Monday, September 16 (Mawlidun Nabiyy Public Holiday) with a public lecture and panel discussion at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, with the theme: “Free Palestine: A luta Continua Victoria ascerta”.
Nigeria’s former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode will be speaking on the topic: “Injustice to Palestinians and genocide in Gaza: a threat to democracy and freedom in the world”.
Muslim News learnt that the human rights activist and religious leaders such as Comrade Buna from Human Rights Monitoring Agenda (HURMA); Prof Lakin Akintola, Director of Muslim Rights Concern, MURIC; and Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, Grand Mufti, Conference of Islamic of Organizations (CIO) will be speaking on different topics like: “Is UN (Security Council) for us or against us (Palestine as a case study)” and “Our roles in ensuring complete freedom of the state of Palestine”.
Why we introduced solidarity match: Yakeen
Yakeen, who heads the planning committee explained the rationale for the introduction of a solidarity football match to this year’s Aqsa Day was to involve students of higher institutions and professionals in the Palestinian advocacy through sports.
He noted that the soccer game will serve as a form of advocacy for their brothers in Palestine in their struggle against Israel’s illegal occupation and violence.
“This is one of the unique features in this year’s Aqsa Day. This is the first time that we will be having something of such. We’ll stage a solidarity football match with the participation of eight leading and prominent Muslim organisations in Nigeria.
“We are getting students and professionals involved. Majority of youths today, particularly young men, are sports lovers and even in the just concluded Paris Olympics, the few Palestinians that participated also showcased their God gifted skills and talents. They used the occasion to express their plight and call on the world to end the 10-month genocide going on Palestine.
“So, we want to get the students in higher institutions and Muslim professionals involved through sports so that they can at least feel the pain and sympathise with our brothers in Palestine. It is for humanity sake, that is the essence of the solidarity match.
Choice of Femi Fani-Kayode for the lecture
Yakeen also disclosed that the choice of former Aviation Minister was borne out of his unbiased analyses of the Israeli genocidal war in Gaza, where he has consistently criticized and condemned the Benjamin Netanyahu led-government on their atrocities against the innocent Palestinians.
He added, “Also, for our main event, we have invited Chief Femi Fani-Kayode because of what we have seen in him as a true democrat who loves humanity and has been condemning Israeli atrocities in Gaza in the media, as well as calling on the world leaders to stop the senseless killing of innocent people in Palestine.
“That is why we have deemed it fit to contact him and we are happy that he accepted our invitation. We also have a panel session with discussants such as Prof Akintola and Sheikh Shafi’i among others to dissect the topic: “UN: For us or against us”
We’ll continue to use our platform to sensitise Nigerians, world about Palestinians’ plights: Atoyebi
Also speaking, the Director of MAI commended the efforts of the organising committee for incorporating a football tournament into the activities of this year’s Aqsa Day in solidarity with the Palestinians.
The MAI Director called on all Nigerians, irrespective of religious and political leanings to attend the Aqsa Day events en mass and cheer their teams to victory.
Atoyebi called on the international community to urgently intervene by pressuring the Israeli government to end the massacre in Gaza.
He also urged the Nigerian government and people of good conscious to severe ties with Israel until it respects all international laws and accepts roadmap in Palestine.
“The level of massacre being committed by Israel in Gaza is alarming! Something must be done urgently! The international community must intervene, call Israel to order. Palestinians deserve to live in peace in their land. Otherwise, it will not end well for them and their allies, in the middle east and the world at large. The genocide should be stopped now! There should be a permanent solution to the age-long crises between Israel and Palestine.
Atoyebi stated that the killing of over 40,000 Palestinians in the 10-month genocide in Gaza shows that Israel isn’t ready to coexist peacefully with the Palestinians.
The well-meaning people across the globe have now seen that Israel is not ready to coexist peacefully with Palestinians in a land that belongs to the latter.
Moreover, her allies, the self acclaimed world powers have remained indifferent and vindictive of this injustice, despite parading themselves as the epitomes of peace, justice, fairness and freedom.
As always, our aggrieved hearts have remained with the people of Palestine, especially in this burdensome time. We feel for them and we’ll continue to sensitise Nigerians and the world through our activities at MAI, including our forthcoming Aqsa Day events.
“We will not relent in our quest to rally every form of support around them, as we are convinced that the cause for which they are fighting, is a just one.
“As we continue to look forward to victory which is near already, we will continue to commend the courage, resilience, doggedness and spiritedness of every Palestinian.”
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