The Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) otherwise known as Shi’ites has set the national flags of the United States of America (USA) and Israeli on fire during a massive protest in Abuja.

Though the Shi’ites have been protesting the continued detention of their leader, Sheikh Ibraheem El-Zakyzaky, by the federal government, the burning of the flags of the two nations has nothing to do with El-Zakzaky’s condition.

gathered that their action on Friday was in solidarity with the people of Palestine who are allegedly terrorised by the Israeli government with support from the USA.

Abdullahi Musa, the Secretary of IMN’s Academic Forum, told our correspondent that the burning of the flags was a yearly ritual by Shi’ites worldwide on the last Friday of the Muslim month of Ramadan as instructed by the leader of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, late Sheikh Khomeini.

He said, “Today is last the Friday of Ramadan and we burnt the flags in solidarity with the people of Palestine.

“The Palestinians are being killed, their settlements are being destroyed, and forcefully occupied by the Jews.

“So, Imam Khomeini before he died, declared every last Friday of the month of Ramadan as a demand to show solidarity to the people of Palestine.”

•Excerpted from a Saturday Vanguard report.

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