* Seeks unified global voice to end massacre, starvation
* – “I’ve buried 45 family members”: Gaza rep in Nigeria delivers emotional plea, calls for boycott and sanctions
Prominent Nigerian Islamic scholars under the Ulamau Wing of the Conference of Islamic Organisations (CIO) have issued a powerful call to action over the ongoing humanitarian crisis and Israeli genocidal war on Gaza.
Speaking during a mega press conference held at the TMC Da’wah Centre, Ijesha, Lagos, on Thursday, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, Chairman of the Ulamau Wing and National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, delivered an enthusiastic statement decrying what he described as “a genocidal war” against Palestinians in Gaza.
“We, the Ulamau wing, on behalf of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, stand before you today to deliver an urgent message to the world – a message born from the profound suffering of our brothers and sisters in Palestine and the collective conscience of the global Muslim community,” the eloquent Muslim scholar began his speech before thousands of audience who witnessed the briefing.
Sheikh Ahmad provided a historical overview of the crisis, linking the ongoing violence to decades of systematic oppression dating back to the Zionist movement and the 1917 Balfour Declaration.
He emphasised the significance of the Nakba in 1948, which he described as the “catastrophe” that displaced over 750,000 Palestinians and initiated a long-standing pattern of aggression and dispossession.
“The current aggression, therefore, is not an isolated act of self-defense but the latest and most devastating chapter in a long history of dispossession and a practice of genocide,” Sheikh Ahmad declared.
Citing current statistics, he stated, “Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, with many more trapped under the rubbles. An overwhelming majority – 1.9 million people – have been displaced, creating an unprecedented refugee crisis. Hospitals, schools, and essential infrastructure have been deliberately targeted and destroyed.”
He also condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war. “Famine has been declared in parts of Gaza, and countless children are dying of malnutrition and preventable diseases. This is a deliberate and inhumane strategy to make Gaza uninhabitable,” he added.
While commending international legal bodies such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for recognizing war crimes and genocide, Sheikh Ahmad criticized world powers for their continued military and financial support to Israel.
“To the Muslim world, we say: A united voice is our only strength against this injustice,” he charged, urging Muslim nations, particularly those in the Arabian Gulf, to abandon political differences and severe diplomatic ties with Israel. “Your silence, or muted condemnation, is perceived as a betrayal by the Palestinian people,” he said.
He further urged global powers to impose sanctions on Israel, halt arms transfers, and suspend diplomatic and trade relations until the occupation ends. “It is time to officially declare the Israeli regime a terrorist state,” he added.
Gaza community representative commends Nigerian support, urges deeper action
Also speaking at the press conference was Abu Ibrahim Bn Ibrahim, a representative of the Gaza community in Nigeria. Through Arabic remarks translated into Yoruba by the Grand Mufti of CIO Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, Abu Ibrahim expressed deep appreciation to the organisers and the Nigerian public – both Muslim and non-Muslim – for their unwavering solidarity.
He notably praised former Nigerian Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, for his vocal support of the Palestinian cause. “Fani-Kayode was raised to love Israel unconditionally, but the events unfolding in Gaza have changed his perspective to the extent that he would rather be buried with the people of Gaza than stand with oppression,” Abu Ibrahim said.
He lauded Fani-Kayode’s emotional desire to travel to Gaza and embrace the children, saying it reflects the true spirit of humanity – something he claimed is lacking among many Muslim leaders today.
Quoting a Hadith, he warned Muslims against inaction: “Ignoring the plight of fellow Muslims disqualifies one from true Islamic brotherhood. You cannot deceive Allah with silence or passivity.”
He strongly criticized Arab governments, particularly the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and the Egyptian leadership, for failing to take meaningful action. Comparing the current Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to former President Mohamed Morsi, he said Morsi had once pressured world leaders to halt Israeli aggression, while Sisi hides behind false claims of border openness.
Abu Ibrahim emphasized the power of economic boycotts, stating that some corporations are now cautious due to growing public resistance. “Those who remain inactive should reflect on the hypocrisy in their hearts,” he said.
He also urged Nigeria to take a stronger stance: “The Nigerian government and people should expel any Israeli presence as a show of solidarity.”
Declaring himself an ambassador for the Palestinian cause in Africa, he revealed that he travels across cities and countries to campaign for the rights of Palestinians. He also shared a personal tragedy, disclosing that over 45 members of his family have died in the war, including his father.
In an emotional conclusion, he recounted a recent phone call from his mother in Gaza: “She told me she hadn’t eaten bread in 12 days.” He urged Muslims everywhere to search their hearts and act decisively for the people of Gaza.
The press conference concluded with a heartfelt appeal to the media and global community to give adequate coverage to the ongoing genocide and to treat the Palestinian crisis as a universal struggle for justice, not a religious or political issue.
“We believe this is a fight for humanity,” Sheikh Ahmad stated. “Act now to save Gaza, to protect Palestine, and to uphold the principles of justice and humanity for all.”
Muslim News gathered that the conference was attended by Imams and leadership of different central mosques and Muslim organisations in Nigeria.
Some of them include Sheikh Moshood Ramadan, Mudeer Markaz Salam; Sheikh Thaoban Adam Al-ilory, Mudeer of Markazul Uloom Arabic and Islamic Center; Sheikh Abd Majeed Ayinla, Deputy Missioner, Nawair-ud-Deen and Sheikh Muhammad Basheer Ayolo, Mudeer Mah’d Hidayah Wal Ishaad.
Others are Sheikh Abd Rasaq kewuyemi, Zumratul Mu’mineen; Alhaji salahudeen Omotayo, JIMSN; Sheikh Olatunji, Zumratul Rashideen: Sheikh Ismail Yusuf Arikewuyo, Lagos Mainland Muslim Community: Sheikh Muhammad Alfa Nla, Jamaatul Islamiyyah; Sheikh Tirimidhi Muhammad Jamiu, Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation; Mal. Kamoldeen Abiona, MSSN Lagos Amir; Alhaji Abdullah Afolabi, C.I.O Exco member. and Engr. Luqman Balogun, Secretary General of the hosting organisation.
Faces at the mega press conference
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