The Federal Government has been called upon to urgently review its relations with the State of Israel until it respects international law and the rights of Palestinians.
The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria (SCSN), in collaboration with the Congregation of Islamic Organisations, on behalf of the Muslim ummah, made the call at an international press conference on the “Genocide by Israel in Palestine” held on Thursday in Abuja.
The press conference, which was addressed by the SCSN President Sheikh AbdurRasheed Hadiyyatullah, was in reaction to the ongoing bombardment of Gaza, saying Israel has so far “dropped more than 6,000 bombs on civilian populations and infrastructure, including hospitals and schools. The latest being the bombing of al-Hilal Baptist Christian Hospital.”
The SCSN called on the United Nations and the international community “to stop this hypocrisy, apply international law equally on everybody, and pursue the realization of the two-state solution in Palestine diligently, so as to bring to an end this callousness, bloodshed, and suffering in that part of the world.”
The council urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to emulate the government and opposition party of South Africa who condemned the actions of the Zionist State of Israel.
“It should immediately assume its African leadership position in Africa as it was during the Murtala Administration. It should be at the forefront of the struggle for the liberation of the oppressed people of Palestine and in places such as Myanmar, Kashmir, China, and India.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria should urgently review its relations with the Zionist State of Israel until it respects international law and the rights of Palestinians.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria on behalf of the teeming Muslims, Christians, and people of conscience in Nigeria, should, as a matter of urgency, provide relief materials to the besieged Palestinians who are in dire need of food, clothing, medicine, and other essentials.
“Nigerian humanitarian organizations and mosques are hereby called upon to mobilize assistance to the distressed people of Palestine.
“The council calls on all Muslims and people of other faiths to offer special prayers invoking Allah, the Most High, to come to the aid of the Palestinians and other oppressed people of the world,” the SCSN President said.
Earlier while expressing concern about what it termed “ongoing genocide” in Palestine, the SCSN lamented the failure of global institutions established after the Second World War to protect human beings against any form of tyranny.
It also lamented that the international community has failed to address the root cause of the Israeli-Palestine conflict “largely because of the Government of the United States of America, which has consistently offered unconditional support to the Zionist occupiers of Palestine.”
The SCSN cited the recent visit by US President Joe Biden to the Middle East and sought support for Israel, noting that the visit failed to get the endorsement of Middle East countries, including traditional US allies.
Dateline Nigeria reports that the press conference was attended by many members of the ulamah, including the Chairman Council of Imams in the FCT and Imam of Fouad Lababidi Central Mosque Wuse Zone 3 in Abuja Dr Tajudeen Muhammad Bello Adigun and Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, Vice President SCSN.
