Naijahood
Hundreds of devout Muslims gathered in Lagos on Saturday, October 21, 2023, to participate in a massive rally, expressing their solidarity with the suffering people of Gaza in Palestine who are enduring relentless bombardments by the Israeli military.
This gathering, organized under the banner of the Conference of Islamic Organizations, brought together individuals from various Muslim groups, civil society organizations, students, and Islamic scholars. Among the attendees was Auwal Musa Rafsanjani from Amnesty International (AI) Nigeria, representing the human rights community.
The rally, marked by a procession through the streets of Lagos, featured protesters brandishing placards and banners adorned with diverse inscriptions, all calling for an end to the tragic loss of innocent lives in Palestine. Some of the slogans included: “Nigeria Unites for Palestine, Supporting Freedom and Justice for the Palestinian Nation,” “Stop the Killing of Innocent Women and Children: From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will Be Free,” “Gaza: End the Siege,” “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians,” “A Crime Against Humanity,” and “Our Freedom Is Incomplete Without Theirs.”
The primary demand of the demonstrators was the cessation of Israeli military occupation in Gaza, a small region with a predominantly Muslim population of over two million people.
In recent weeks, over 3,000 civilians in the Gaza Strip lost their lives due to ongoing Israeli military operations. These operations were initiated as retaliation for the loss of Israeli citizens, including babies and the elderly, during a coordinated attack by members of the Palestinian militant group, Hamas, on October 7.
The Israeli military has stated that it will only halt its campaign when it believes it has neutralized the threat posed by Hamas. However, the increasing number of civilian casualties and the associated humanitarian crises have raised concerns.
Protests have erupted in various Muslim-majority countries, with demonstrators urging global powers to intervene, compel Israel to halt its military actions, and ensure that Gaza’s population receives much-needed humanitarian aid.
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