Members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) on Friday staged a rally in Abuja to mourn the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, and express solidarity with the people of Palestine.
The demonstration marked the first protest by the Shiite group in the Federal Capital Territory since Khamenei was killed on February 26 in strikes reportedly carried out by the United States and Israel.
Before the Abuja rally, members of the movement had already organised demonstrations in several cities across northern Nigeria as well as in Lagos.
Amid fears that the group could stage demonstrations in the FCT, the United States Embassy in Nigeria earlier shut down its operations temporarily, while security agencies deployed personnel across parts of Abuja.
The rally coincided with the annual Quds Day observance, drawing thousands of Shiite Muslims to the National Mosque.
Participants carried banners, waved flags and chanted slogans condemning Israeli actions against Palestinians.
Speaking during the event, the Chairman of the Media Forum of the Islamic Movement, Ammar Rajab, said the movement had marked Quds Day in Nigeria for more than four decades through lectures, processions and awareness campaigns.
Rajab said this year’s observance was especially significant because of the worsening humanitarian situation in Palestinian territories.
He said reports indicated that over 200,000 Palestinians had been killed or injured since October 2023, while many others had been displaced.
“We also mourned the assassination of Ayatullah Ali Khamenei, highlighting his uncompromising stand against oppression and injustice, and reaffirmed the movement’s call for the freedom and liberation of Palestine,” Rajab said.
Rajab dismissed claims that security operatives attacked members of the movement during the rally.
According to him, the event was conducted peacefully without any intervention from security agencies.
However, some residents reported heavy traffic congestion along the Nyanya–Mararaba road, where security personnel mounted checkpoints and searched vehicles ahead of the rally.
Similar demonstrations were held in Bauchi, where supporters of the movement also gathered to express solidarity with Palestinians and Iran.
The leader of the movement in Bauchi, Ahmad Yashi, said the demonstration formed part of global activities marking Quds Day, which is observed on the last Friday of Ramadan.
He said the protest aimed to show support for Palestinians, whom he described as victims of decades of conflict.
Yashi also declared the group’s support for Iran amid the ongoing war involving the United States and Israel, stating that the killing of Khamenei could escalate tensions further.
“We are with Iran in heart and soul. They targeted the Iranian Supreme Leader to make the country surrender, but they are mistaken,” he said.
He added that Islam promotes peace but blamed Western powers for what he described as persistent global conflicts.
