Ayatollah Seyyed Hassan voiced concerns in a message released following the detention Nigerian Shia leader Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky in the wake of a deadly attack on Shia Muslims in the northern city of Zaria.
The grandson of Imam Khomeini noted that the enemies were scared and fearful of the right logic adopted by Sheikh Ibrahim al-Zakzaky and his efforts of preaching which resulted in expansion of the truthful and peaceful religion of Shia across Nigeria.
Seyyed Hassan Khomeini also praised the spirit of the Shia Muslims in Nigeria and their devotion towards the ideals of Imam Khomeini.
Nigerian forces raided the house of Zakzaky, the leader of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, on Sunday and arrested him after reportedly killing several individuals attempting to protect him, including one of the movement’s senior leaders and its spokesman.
This is while a photo circulating on social media appears to show Zakzaky being seriously wounded.
The development followed clashes between troops and Shia Muslims in the country’s city of Zaria, in Kaduna State, on Saturday, in which at least 15 people were killed and many more injured.
Reports said soldiers opened fire on the people attending a ceremony in Hussainiyyah Baqeeyatullah, a religious center in the northern city.
Human rights groups and activists have strongly denounced the Nigerian government for violating religious and social freedoms by attacking peaceful Shia gatherings.
The Nigerian army had also targeted Shias in August last year as people were holding a demonstration to condemn Israeli attacks on the Palestinians.
Shias in Nigeria have also been targeted by the Takfiri militant group Boko Haram. More than 20 people were killed on November 27 in a Boko Haram bomb attack targeting Nigerian Shia Muslims during an annual religious procession in the northern state of Kano.