Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, popularly known as Shi’ites, on Friday, condemned Israeli air attacks on the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, Palestine.
The IMN members, who staged a protest after Juma’at Prayers at the National Mosque in Abuja, on Friday, described the attack as “a massacre and a violation of international laws” while calling on Nigerians to support the people of Palestine.
In a statement signed by Sheikh Sidi Mainasara for the IMN, the group said the call for support of justice against tyranny was a teaching of its leader, Ibraheem El-Zakzaky, while urging Nigerians to break the “deafening silence”, and speak up for Palestine.
Part of the statement reads, “We protest today to condemn an Israeli air attack on the Greek Orthodox Saint Porphyrius Church in Gaza City, Palestine. Located in a historic neighbourhood of Gaza City, the church is the oldest church still in use in Gaza.
“Over generations, the church has offered sanctuary to people of various faiths. The attack took place yesterday night. This comes after the earlier attack on the Gaza hospital that resulted in the killing of more than 500 people. We believe that this is a massacre and a violation of international laws.
“Calling people to support justice everywhere and oppose tyranny and oppression everywhere is part of the teachings of our leader, Shaikh Ibraheem El-Zakzaky (H). For more than three decades, the Islamic movement, under the leadership of his eminence, Shaikh Ibraheem Zakzaky (H), has been organising programmes and protests in support of the oppressed people of Palestine.
“In view of the foregoing, we urge all in Nigeria to break the deafening silence and raise voices to support the oppressed Palestinians. We condemn this attack on the Gaza hospital, and the illegal state of Israel must be held liable for this atrocity.”