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Shi'ite Moslems protest detentions

    ABIDJAN

    More than 1,000 Shi'ite Moslems, led by the preacher Ibrahim Zak-Zaky, marched through the northern Nigerian city of Kaduna on Wednesday to demand the release of dozens of detained Islamic activists, news organisations reported.

    "No fewer than 40 Islamic activists remain unjustifiably in various prisons across the country and the government is pretending that all is well," Shi'ite spokesman Abdulkareem Ahmed was quoted by news agencies as saying.

    The protestors carried black and red flags and chanted Islamic songs as they marched peacefully through Kaduna. Security forces made no attempt to stop the march, news reports said.

    Zak-Zaky was freed last December after spending more than two years in prison on charges of sedition. General Abdulsalami Abubukar, Nigeria's head of state, denies that any political prisoners remain in detention, Reuters reported.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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