In a message, Ayatollah Mohammad Hasan Akhtari, the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly congratulated the release of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, the founder of the Nigerian Islamic Movement.
The message of Ayatollah Akhtari is as follow:
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
Your Excellency, Hojat al-Islam Hajj Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky
Assalamu Alaykum
Congratulations on your release from unlawful detention! With resistance and patience, you managed to pass six years of highly terrible conditions.
This happy event, coinciding with the anniversary of the great event of Ghadir, the Eid of Imamate and Wilayah, added to the joy of us and the followers of the AhlulBayt (a.s.).
I deem it necessary to offer you my most sincere greetings from the bottom of my heart for your patience, perseverance and endurance because you sustained pain and hardships with all your strength; furthermore, you sacrificed your six beloved children for Islam and the Quran.
During these six years, prominent scholars and members of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly from different countries did whatever possible to let the world know about the oppression of the Nigerian Shiites and for your release.
Now, on behalf of myself and the honorable members of the council, I appreciate all those who worked for your release, especially scholars of different religions and denominations, lawyers, human rights organizations and those media active in this field.
Besides, the faithful women and devoted men who risked their lives and positions during all these years and called for your freedom with their continued public participation, and even being martyred in this way, deserve a lot of appreciation and gratefulness.
To thank God for your freedom, I prostrate before God Almighty, and once again congratulating the Muslim Ummah and the people of Nigeria, I pray to Heaven for an honorable long life for you and your esteemed spouse.
I hope that your life will be a good model for everyone in the communication of the truth and defence of the sanctity of the AhlulBayt (a.s.).
Mohammad Hassan Akhtari
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly
Zul-Hijjah 19, 1442
July 31, 2021