Police have said that non-members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) are free to hold peaceful Ashura procession.
The day of Ashura, however, is observed annually by Shiite Muslims worldwide to commemorate the death of Husayn ibn Ali in the Battle of Karbala in Iraq, Igbere TV reports.
Following reports of a peaceful procession in Abuja and violence in Kaduna, police have said in a statement on Tuesday that the ban on processions only applies to IMN members.
The statement said: “Following the deluge of enquiries concerning the ban on procession on the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), it has become absolutely imperative to clarify that the ban on processions is applicable to members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria only.
“Against this backdrop, Muslims marking the commemoration of ‘Ashura’ throughout the country along with other Muslims across the world are free to carry out the annual ‘Ashura’ procession.
“They should, however, do so within the confines of the law and guard against infiltration by unscrupulous elements who may want to take advantage of the event to cause disruption of public peace, order and security.
“The IGP has directed all CPs & their respective supervisory AIG of Police in Commands and Zones to give full effect to the above clarifications and ensure that non-IMN Muslims are not in any way restricted from exercising their freedom of religion, worship and peaceful assembly.
“In the same vein, the IGP has enjoined members of the public to be calm and go about their lawful businesses as the Force is doing all within its capacity to ensure there is no breach of the peace, law and order anywhere in the country.”
