Pro-Iran Shia Muslims in Nigeria held a rally in Abuja, defying a ban, to express solidarity with Palestinians and voice opposition to the US and Israel during Quds Day.
On Quds Day, scores of pro-Iran Shia Muslims gathered in Abuja, Nigeria, despite a strict ban and heavy security presence, to express their support for Palestinians while opposing US and Israeli actions. The assembly took place at the Abuja National Mosque, where around 200 participants carried images of Iran's late supreme leader and voiced chants against Israel and the US amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East.
The rally was organized by the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), a group that has been outlawed since 2019 for its advocacy of an Islamic revolution. Nonetheless, the IMN remains active in organizing protests and is characterized by researchers as more focused on peaceful demonstrations rather than engaging in political violence. During the protest, one demonstrator notably called for the withdrawal of US military presence from the Middle East, reinforcing the anti-imperialist sentiment prevalent among the rallying group.
The Nigerian government has a history of harsh crackdowns on the IMN, which raises concerns about the potential repercussions for participants in this rally. This defiance of the ban, catching security forces off-guard, indicates a growing frustration within the group's membership against the government repressions they face, which could escalate tensions between the Shia community and the Nigerian state in the future.
