Shi'ite, Military Clash: HURIWA Condemns Iran, Amnesty Intl's Meddlesomeness

 Shi'ite, Military Clash: HURIWA Condemns Iran, Amnesty Intl's Meddlesomeness

Today, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA)  condemned the continuous meddlesomeness and unnecessary interference of the Iranian Government and the Amnesty International (AI) in Nigeria's internal affairs.

The group lambasted the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. saeed Koozechi, and called for his immediate repatriation from the country for allegedly criticising the different investigating panels set up by both the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the Kaduna State Government to unravel the circumstances surrounding the recent fracas between the Zaria-based Islamic Movement known as Shi'ite and the Nigerian army.

The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, while addressing journalists  in Abuja today February 8, stated that Iran has no moral rights to criticise the panels investigating the incident and allegations of extra legal killings during the encounter between the army and the Islamic group.

According to Onwubiko, "Iran has the most notorious human rights records worldwide following the constant suppression of free speech and Iranian government's clampdown on prodemocracy campaigners.

"It is unbecoming of a diplomat of Iran to launch unwarranted media attacks on the sovereign nation like Nigeria, and for attempting actively to railroad Nigeria into what measures to adopt to resolve her internal social and security's dynamics when it is very clear that Iranian Government wouldn't tolerate such meddlesome interlopers in matters concerning Iran."

Stating further, HURIWA boss said: "With the increased spikes by the terrorists in Nigeria, we are hereby asking the Nigerian government to treat all allegations of interference by foreign country as a breach of national security because it is inconceivable how the terrorists have continued to get supplies of weapons.

"HURIWA is not in support of the continuous detection of Ibraheem El-Zakzaky nor any other person, but no country or group must be allowed to dictate to a sovereign nation like Nigeria on how to use constitutional mechanisms to resolve internal conflicts when such arise. His provocative statements on the recent Shi'ite Islamic movement and the Nigeria army's encounter which led to unfortunate casualties is wholly and substantially dubious, and must be looked at strongly as a threat to our Sovereignty."