The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) has denied allegations of being backed by Iran to spread terrorism in Nigeria.
In an interview on Friday, Michael Freeman, Israeli ambassador to Nigeria, accused the Iranian government of sponsoring Islamic movements in Nigeria and West Africa as part of efforts to spread terror across the globe.
Freeman’s comments came as members of the IMN, also known as Shi’ites, staged protests in several states over the killing of Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, during recent US-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
“We’ve seen Iran spreading terror. We’ve seen them developing a ballistic missile programme and a nuclear program. Nigeria has been on the receiving end of terrorism from Iran,” the envoy said.
Hours after Freeman’s statement, the IMN media forum rejected the accusations, labelling the ambassador’s comments as a “possible false-flag terrorism by the Israelis”.
“It is both inappropriate and unacceptable for the representative of a state widely found guilty of committing genocide and grave violations of international laws to lecture others about terrorism or security,” Ammar Rajab, chairman of IMN media forum, said in a statement shared with TheCable on Saturday.
Rajab said Freeman’s comments were “not only a blatant falsehood but also a dangerous and failed attempt to incite tension and chaos among Muslims in Nigeria”.
“The Islamic movement is not an organisation but a principled movement built on an ideology and a concept that advocates justice and resistance against oppression.
“For more than five decades of Islamic activism in Nigeria, no court of law has ever convicted the Islamic movement of terrorism or violent activity. At no point in our history have the adherents of the movement attacked any individual or organisation in the name of the movement.
“These baseless claims therefore exist only in the imagination of those seeking to demonise Muslims and silence legitimate voices of solidarity with oppressed people.”
Rajab urged the public to disregard the “unfounded” allegations.
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