Islamic Movement

The term Islamic Movement can refer to Islam or Islamism in general, or to any of several religious or political organizations:

Nigeria

The Federal Republic of Nigeria, commonly referred to as Nigeria ⁱ/naɪˈdʒɪəriə/, is a federal constitutional republic in West Africa, bordering Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean. It comprises 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, where the capital, Abuja is located. Nigeria is officially a democratic secular country.

Modern-day Nigeria has been the site of numerous kingdoms and tribal states over the millennia. The modern state originated from British colonial rule beginning in the 19th century, and the merging of the Southern Nigeria Protectorate and Northern Nigeria Protectorate in 1914. The British set up administrative and legal structures whilst practising indirect rule through traditional chiefdoms. Nigeria became a formally independent federation in 1960, and plunged into a civil war from 1967 to 1970. It has since alternated between democratically-elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, until it achieved a stable democracy in 1999, with its 2011 presidential elections being viewed as the first to be conducted reasonably freely and fairly.

Ibrahim Zakzaky

Ibrahim Yaqoub El Zakzaky (alternately Ibraheem Zakzaky; Ibrahim Al-Zakzaky) (born May 5, 1953) is a Shi'a Muslim cleric in Nigeria, and head of Nigeria's Islamic Movement (IMN). In 2015 Zakzaky was injured and arrested by the army. His whereabouts are unknown.

Personal life

Ibrahim Zakzaky was born on 5 May 1953 (15 Sha’ban 1372 AH), in Zaria, Kaduna State. He is married to Zeenah and with whom he had six children.

Early career

Zakzaky attended the Provincial Arabic School, Zaria (1969-1970), Law School (now the School for Arabic Studies), Kano (1971-1975) and the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria (1976-1979). He became the secretary-general of the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) in the Main Campus of ABU (1977/78) and later Vice President (International Affairs) of the National Body of the MSSN in 1979.

Islamic Movement in Nigeria

Dr Iqbal Siddiqui described El-Zakzaky as "the de facto leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria".

Political alignment and activities

Islamic Movement (Nigeria)

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria is a religious and political organization based in the northern region of Nigeria. The Islamic Movement is headed by Ibraheem Zakzaky, a Shia cleric. The movement conduct most of its spiritual activities in Husainiyya Baqiyatullah, located in Zaria. According to Islamic Human Rights Commission, the Islamic Movement has thousands of Muslims from both Sunni and Shia schools of thought who are affiliated to it. Movement has been known as a non-violent Islamic movement for years. The movement has organised peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstrations on annual basis for over 33 years across Nigeria and particularly in the state of Kaduna. The movement gatherings though have been attacked several times by both Boko Haram and the Nigerian army.

This movement is noted for introducing Shia Islam to Nigeria in the 1980s. Before 1980, almost all Nigerian-Muslims were Sunni. Clashes between Sunni and Shia residents of Nigeria followed the assassination of Imam Umaru Danmaishiyya, who was known for his fiery anti-Shia preaching.

Sheikh Ibrahim

Sheikh Ibrahim or Shaikh Ibrahim may refer to: