Why has Nigeria banned the main Shia Muslim group? | Inside Story

Government labels Islamic Movement of Nigeria a ‘terrorist’ organisation.

Nigeria’s main Shia Muslim group has had a tumultuous few days.
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria has been banned and labelled a terrorist organisation.
Its leader, Ibrahim Zakzaky, as been in jail since 2015, when 350 of his followers were killed in confrontations with security forces.
More supporters were killed in protests last week demanding his release.
Observers say the government is handling the group in a similar way to Boko Haram, which turned violent a decade ago when its leader died in police custody.
Could this latest crackdown provoke a new conflict?

Presenter: Martine Dennis

Guests:

Ibrahim Musa – President of the media forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria

Matthew Page – Associate Fellow with the Africa Programme at Chatham House

Aniete Ewang – Nigeria Researcher at Human Rights Watch

Ini Dele-Adedeji – Research Associate at the University of York

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