A three-page petition, titled: “Israel vs Palestine unceasing feud – A Challenge to renew our humanity: Release abducted Palestinian leader, Abu Ibrahim and others Now!” was also addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, on Wednesday, August 27.
* Say arrest is double standard, hypocritical to Nigeria’s recognition of two-state solution
A coalition of civil and human rights groups in Nigeria has called for the immediate and unconditional release of Palestinian leader, Ramzy Abu Ibrahim and other members of the Palestinian community living in the country.
The groups held a peaceful protest in Abuja on Wednesday where they stated that the reported arrest is not only an assault on freedom of expression, association and human rights but also a double standard for Nigeria’s recognition of a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli crises.
Abu Ibrahim, according to multiple media reports, was said to have been arrested by operatives of the anti-terrorism squad of the Nigerian Police at his home in Abuja, the national capital, on Friday.
Muslim News gathered that the leader of the Palestinian community has lived in Nigeria for nearly three decades. He is known to be passionate about advocacies for the freedom of Palestinians from the oppression of the Israeli regime and leading condemnations against the Israeli genocidal war on Gaza that has led to the death of children, women, journalists, among others.
In a statement jointly signed by Omotaje Olawale Saint of WorkBond International Network (WIN) and Kunle Ajayi Wizeman of United Action for Democracy, the coalition of human rights groups asserted that Abu Ibrahim’s arrest cannot be separated from his activism, especially with the recent security pact between the Nigerian government and the State of Israel.
A three-page petition, titled: “Israel vs Palestine unceasing feud – A Challenge to renew our humanity: Release abducted Palestinian leader, Abu Ibrahim and others Now!” was also addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, on Wednesday, August 27.
“This development raises serious concerns that Nigeria’s security apparatus is being deployed to suppress legitimate voices of solidarity with Palestine,” the statement said.
The coalition noted that the manner with which Abu Ibrahim was arrested violates globally recognised fundamental human rights principles, tenets, and conventions, which the Nigerian state is a party to.
“Nigeria must not allow itself to become a tool of external powers in silencing dissent. The detention of Abu Ibrahim and other Palestinian community leaders is an assault on freedom of expression, association, and human rights,” according to the statement.
The human rights organisations called on Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the immediate and unconditional release of Ramzy Abu Ibrahim and other detained Palestinian community leaders.
“The Tinubu administration must respect the rights of Palestinians in Nigeria and ensure they are not subjected to harassment, humiliation, or political repression.”
The coalition also asked the federal government to review its security ties with the State of Israel, noting no agreement should compromise Nigeria’s independence and undermine the democratic rights of residents within the shores of the country.
“Nigeria must stand on the side of justice and not allow its territory or institutions to be used to stifle voices calling for freedom, dignity, and peace in Palestine,” it stated.
The groups also noted that the unlawful detention violated both Nigeria’s constitution and international conventions to which the country is a party.
“The detention of Abu Ibrahim and other Palestinian community leaders is an assault on freedom of expression, association, and human rights.
“We call for a ” Two-nation State” solution to the Middle East dilemma of the double face of the same coin of our collective humanity”, the statement stated.
The list of other organisations in the coalition includes: All Workers Convergence, Lagos State Liberation Congress, Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights, Yoruba Youth Assembly, Centre for Human Rights Advocacy, Center Against Injustice and Domestic Violence, Youth Initiative Agenda for Democratic Process, Southwest People Parliamentary Agenda, Peace Initiative for Better Nigeria, and Youth League Academy.
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