Hate-Speech: Shiite Warns Police Spokesperson on Stigmatization

Hate-Speech: Shiite Group Warn Police Spokesperson on Stigmatization

The Islamic Movement in Nigeria has called on the Kano state police command to call to order its PPRO, SP Magaji Musa Majiya over what it says is his penchant use of his office to rubbish the Shia Islamic faith.

The Movement was referring to a recent press conference the police public relations officer held in which he accused a criminal of being a former Shiite. It says such description is uncalled for and unethical since other criminals were not defined by their faith.

Below is the press statement issued by the Islamic Movement in Nigeria to the media and signed by Ibrahim Musa, president Media Forum of the Movement:

“Kano state PPRO engaged in hate speech against Shiites*

On Wednesday, 14th November, 2018, Kano state Police Public Relations officer (PPRO) SP Magaji Musa Majiya, before a press conference, said that a former Shiite has been arrested in collaboration with a dismissed police officer for extortion on unsuspecting members of the public.

Checks made by the Islamic Movement on the arrested ‘former Shiite’ has indicated that he is not a true member of the Islamic Movement, but an informer of the police. This also explains why it has been easy for him to collaborate with a dismissed police officer.

However in the first place it is weird for a police officer to identify a criminal as a Shiite, unless he wants to engage in hate speech with the intent of whipping up sentiments against the Shiites. Why didn’t he identify the other criminal as a Sunni, since Shia and Sunni are the two main Islamic school of thoughts to which every Muslim must be a member of one?

This is not the first time that SP Majiya is using any slight opportunity to rubbish the Shia Islamic faith. Hence we find it appropriate to call on the Nigeria Police command to call him to order, and remind him to desist from using his office to achieve some narrow sectarian goals.

We implore members of the public to disregard and discountenance the insinuation by SP Majiya that Shia harbors criminal elements. It is a known fact that Shiites are practicing Muslims against any form of criminality.

SIGNED BY
IBRAHIM MUSA
PRESIDENT MEDIA FORUM OF ISLAMIC MOVEMENT IN NIGERIA