3rd August, 2019
PRESS RELEASE:
MURIC CALLS FOR SOWORE’S RELEASE
The presidential candidate
of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, was arrested around 1.35
am today Saturday, 3rd August, 2019 by agents of the Department of
State Security (DSS). Sowore is also the convener of #Revolutionnow and his
arrest may not be unconnected with his recent call for protests for a
revolution.
Meanwhile, an Islamic human
rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called for the
immediate and unconditional release of the politician cum activist. This was contained in a press statement
issued by the group late Saturday evening.
“We call on the DSS to respect Sowore’s Allah-given fundamental human
rights. He must not be subjected to inhuman treatment. We remind the DSS that right to the dignity of the human person is entrenched in
Section 34 (b) & (c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as amended (2011) which says,
‘Every individual is entitled to respect for the dignity of his
person, and accordingly…(b) no person shall be held in slavery or servitude and
(c) no person shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
“The African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights, Article 4, Clause 1 & 2 also says, ‘Human beings are inviolable. Every human being shall be entitled
to respect for his life and the integrity of his person.’ Sowore must therefore be allowed access to
his family members and physician. He must also be treated with civility.
“Although we do not subscribe to
the call for any revolution because we do not see the need for it in view of the
commitment of the present administration to good governance, we deem it fit to
call for the immediate and unconditional release of the detained activist. In
the alternative, he must be arraigned before a competent court at the shortest
time possible.
“Finally, we remind the DSS of the
provisions of Article 7(b) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights which
stipulates the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent
court or tribunal. Nigeria is a signatory to this charter and the DSS cannot pretend
to be unaware of it.”
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
No comments:
Post a Comment