Islam Times - Sheikh Zakzaki Speaks against Every Injustice That is Done by Anyone against Humanity

Sheikh Zakzaki Speaks against Every Injustice That is Done by Anyone against Humanity

Islam Times - Interview with Pastor Rowland Sanda, Christian supporters of Sheikh Zakzaki regarding the nation and the Islamic movement.

My name is Pastor Rowland Sanda. I pastor with "Christ Evangelical and Life Intervention Fellowship" in Kaduna State of Nigeria.

Q1: You, who are supporters of Sheikh Zakzaki, as a Christian, what is the reason that you support Sheikh Zakzaki and the Islamic movement?

Pastor Rowland Sanda: I support the Sheikh because I have observe through history to the present time that he is a good religious leader, a peace ambassador and a human right activist.
He speaks against every injustice that is done by anyone against humanity and he is not sentimental in the things he does.
He encourages his members to relate freely with Christians. He has never incited them against Christians but many times he has saved the lives of Christians by protecting them in times of religious or political crises.
Examples are (a) 1987 Kafanchan riot, (b) Zangon Kataf communal crisis, (c) 2000 Sharia crisis, (d) 2002 beauty pageant crisis, (e)2011 post election violence, and so on. This he has done so many times and he teaches his members to do the same. We Christians cannot repay the Sheikh for all this. We have a very very good relationship and understanding with Sheikh Zakzaki and his members for a long time now and they have never done anything bad to us or anyone else. If they did, we Christians would not have been relating with them the way we do.

Q2: Do you think Sheikh Zakzaki was oppressed?

Pastor Rowland Sanda: Yes he is oppressed.
Many of his members have been killed, many were jailed, his children killed and he his wife have been detained in a bad health condition for many years without adequate medical care. All these and many more have been done against him without a reason.
In all these, none of his members have been jailed by any law court but are always discharged and acquitted.
The Sheikh has not been released from detention by the government. A great injustice is being done against Sheikh Zakzaki by the government of the day in Nigeria. This injustice I count it not only an injustice to him but an injustice to his family, to his members, to us Christians who are good friends with him because he has saved the lives of our brothers and sisters during times of crises. It is also injustice to all of humanity.
The Islamic Movement of Nigeria are good and very very peace-loving people.

Q3: As you know there are pieces of bullets in his body and also he has lost one of his eyes why they have left him in this condition for almost six years? So where are the human rights organizations?

Pastor Rowland Sanda: Many human rights organisation and pressure groups have been making incessant efforts concerning this but the government always turns a deaf ear to it all.
In fact it seems the government wants everyone to be silent about this matter.

Q4: Can the press write freely about Sheikh Zakzaki in Nigeria?

Pastor Rowland Sanda: No. They would receive threats from the government if they did. The press would rather avoid anything that has to do with this issue in fear of the government.