clear

Creating new perspectives since 2009

Nigerian Muslim body calls for sanctions on Israel

May 22, 2018 at 6:30 pm

Atoyebi said the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was “provocative and exposed Washington as a biased party that could no longer serve the cause of justice or fairness on the Palestinian issue.”

A Nigerian Muslim body has called on the international community to pressure the US and Israel to stop atrocities against Palestinians.

“After 70 years since the Palestinian people were evicted from their houses and turned into refugees, another 60 innocent young men and women were killed by Israeli snipers and over 2,000 were injured,” Abdul Waheed Atoyebi, chief of the Muslim Awareness International, told a news briefing in Lagos on Tuesday.

“The Israeli government, as usual, continues to be defiant, using deception, lies and false narratives to defend their indefensible crimes against humanity.”

Atoyebi said the relocation of the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was “provocative and exposed Washington as a biased party that could no longer serve the cause of justice or fairness on the Palestinian issue.”

He praised Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan for showing “unequivocal solidarity” with the Palestinians. He also commended South Africa and Nigeria which have registered their protests at the maltreatment of the Palestinians.

“The whole world is taking note of the great roles Turkey is playing. We call on the Arab league to wake up from their slumber and follow the steps of countries who are standing up to be counted. Arab nations should stop burying their heads in the sand while Palestine and Islam’s third holiest site are under constant attacks,” Atoyebi said.

He called on the UN to go beyond the symbolic criticism of Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians and impose appropriate sanctions to force Israel and its allies to revisit their decisions.