* Collaborates with 30 Muslim groups for 3-day campaign, advocacy
* As Imams across Nigeria address plights of Palestinians in today’s Friday Khutbah
Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) Nigeria has strongly condemned the heinous genocide unfolding in Gaza, saying that the international community’s inaction has emboldened Israel’s brutal occupation, resulting in unimaginable suffering for the Palestinian people.
The Executive Chairman of the Organisation, Mallam Kamor Disu made this disclosure at a joint press conference with other supporting Muslim Organisations held on Thursday in Lagos to unveil the activities of #NigeriaForGaza 3-day programme.
Muslim News gathered that major central mosques across Nigeria will be dedicating portions of today, Friday’s Khutbah (sermons) to raising awareness about the Palestinian struggle while the 3-day campaign climaxes on Sunday, 22nd December at JJT Garden Ikeja, Lagos with enlightenment programmes and thought-provoking presentations from resource persons.
Mal. Disu noted that the 14-month-old genocide in Gaza has claimed the lives of over 45,000 Palestinians, especially children and women, with more than 110,000 people injured, thousands more under the rubble, and two million Palestinians forcibly displaced.
While the occupation forces continues to strike Gaza under the watch of the international community and Arab World, Mal. Disu disclosed that the West Bank – the larger of the two Palestinian territories that comprise the Palestinian State, faces daily aggression, with Israel’s relentless expansion of settlements and demolition of Palestinian homes.
Addressing heinous genocide unfolding in Gaza
“I stand before you today on behalf of the Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC) and other collaborating organisations to address the heinous genocide unfolding in Gaza”, said Mal. Disu as he welcomed gentlemen of the press to the briefing.
According to him, “The international community’s inaction has emboldened Israel’s brutal occupation, resulting in unimaginable suffering for the Palestinian people. As Muslims, we are compelled by our faith to stand in solidarity with the oppressed and to advocate justice and human rights.
“As Muslim organisations, MPAC and our supporting organisations are committed to amplifying the voices of Palestinians, demanding justice and independence, and imploring governments and citizens worldwide to acknowledge the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Demanding immediate end to Gaza genocide
The groups, therefore, urged governments to take immediate action by demanding an immediate end to hostilities while ensuring the protection of civilians and the facilitation of humanitarian aids.
MPAC and other collaborating organisations also backed the call for the recognition of Palestine’s right to self-determination and statehood,
in accordance with international laws and UN resolutions. It urged the international community to hold the occupation forces accountable and impose sanctions and diplomatic consequences for Israel’s egregious human rights’ abuses and war crimes.
“We stand here today to condemn the heinous genocide unfolding in Gaza, and to denounce the complicity of Western nations in perpetuating this injustice.
“Their unwavering support for Israel’s occupation is a stark reminder of the hypocrisy that has come to define their foreign policy. While they preach about human rights and democracy, they continue to arm Israel, providing the very tools used to oppress and slaughter Palestinians.
“The United States alone has vetoed over 53 UN Security Council resolutions against Israel since 1950, shielding Israel from accountability for its war crimes.
It is unconscionable that the same nations that claim to champion human rights and freedom are driven by the same ideology that has perpetrated some of humanity’s darkest atrocities: trans-Atlantic slavery, colonization, the Holocaust, apartheid, and countless wars and massacres,” he noted.
Call on general public to join in advocating justice
The groups also enjoined the general public irrespective of their race and religious inclinations to join us in advocating justice for the Palestinian people.
Disu said, “This is not a Muslim cause, nor is it a Palestinian cause alone. It is a human cause. It is not just a cry for justice, it is a blistering battle for the most fundamental human rights that every living soul on this planet should inherit by birthright.
“It is an unyielding resistance against the oppressive suffocating grip of occupation and the callous denial of the most basic human dignity. The birth of Israel in 1948 brought forth the mass expulsion and dispossession of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their ancestral home and land.
This is a historic injustice that continues to haunt the lives of Palestinians to this very day. The situation in Palestine serves as a brutal reminder of the consequences of colonialism and the ruthless dispossession of indigenous people. It is an agonizing reminder that the fight against injustice knows no border, no race and no religion.
“We urge you to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, to demand justice and accountability from your leaders, and to support humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people,” he added.
Details of 3-day campaign, advocacy
The groups also announced details of the 3-day campaign which began with the press conference, calling on Nigerians irrespective of their beliefs, to join the advocacy which they said transcends religion.
Hajia Aminah Adam, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of MPAC said, “We have a series of enlightenment programmes during the three days, which began with the press conference.
“The next campaign is Friday (today), and we expect our Imams across the country to discuss the genocide in Gaza on the minbar (pulpits) during their Khutbah (sermons). We have reached out to as many as possible Imams through the League of Imams and Alfas.
“We have also communicated MUSWEN, an umbrella body for Muslims in southwest. We also spoke with IMC (Island Muslim Community) among others to get the message across. most of the minbar on Friday will be talking about Palestine and for us to be remembering them in our prayers. The least we can do is to remember them and talk about their plights on different platforms.”
Speaking further, Hajia Adam stated that the next activity will be an online campaign, adding that, “Starting from Friday and Saturday, we are going to be addressing happenings in Palestine on all social media platforms including X, Facebook, TikTok, among others.
“We can’t do it alone, that’s why we have collaborated with other organisations. We have over 30 organisations as part of this campaign. Some of them are Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Movement for Islamic Culture Awareness (MICA), Hijab Rights Advocacy Initiative (HRAI), Muslim Ummah of Sout-West Nigeria (MUSWEN), Lekki Muslim Ummah (LEMU), Al-Mu’minaat (The Believing Women), MSSN Lagos State Area Unit and The Academy.
Others are Nasrul-Lahi-L-Fatih Society (NASFAT), Island Muslim Community (IMU), The Companion, Daaru-s-Sa’aadah Islamic Centre, The Tahara Collective, Siddiqah Foundation, Muslim Mercy Aid & Relief Int’l Foundation, Admonition Islamic Center, Council of Higher Institutions, League of Imams and Alfas, South-East Muslim Community Forum (SEMCOF), Karfycomm Dawah Group, Social Awareness Program and Guild of Muslim Professionals.
“On Sunday, there will be a gathering at JJT park, opposite Lagos State House of Assembly. We are going to be enlightened about happenings in Palestine with different educational and informative documentaries. Representatives of different organisations will be speaking at the sitting. there will be a fitness walk as well. We are calling for unity. It’s for the general public, irrespective of your religious beliefs,” she added.
