Governor Nasir El-Rufai
The Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) has accused Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State of sponsoring hate speech campaign against the group.
The movement stated this in a statement on Friday issued by the President, Media Forum, Ibrahim Musa.
The group further alleged that El Rufai sponsored hate speech campaign against it at a recent book presentation at Arewa House, Kaduna, during which the group were called infidels by the organisers of the event.
As stated by Musa, “The Islamic Movement in Nigeria wishes to express its outright disapproval of the current campaign of calumny against the Shia Islamic faith in general and the Islamic Movement in particular as espoused in the gathering of some Wahabi Islamic scholars during the book presentation on Sunday 11/08/18 at Arewa House, Kaduna, where Kaduna state Governor was the Chief Host.
“Though, the book presented was entitled “Fallacy of Shi’ites beliefs,” the scholars were reported by some national dailies to have stated that “Shiites, threat to National Security.” We feel this news headline deserves our condemnation. How about if we say: “Sunnis, threat to National Security,” will followers of Sunni Islam in Nigeria not get offended?” according to the Press Statement.
“We are extremely concerned that this title is similar to some of the scary titles you read about Muslims on the websites of Far Right movements who are busy spreading Islamophobia in the West in particular and the world in general, only that in this context the shiaphobia is the bogey for the so-called Wahabbi scholars.”