According to a 14 September 1996 IPS report, riots were reported in Kaduna and Katsina, northern Nigeria in protest against the arrest of Shi'ite leader Ibrahm El-Zak- Zaky. The arrest allegedly followed clashes between Shi'ite Moslems and Christians in the town of Kafanchan, south of Kaduna (ibid.). A 11 September 1996 Inter Press Service (IPS) report states that Sheik Ibrahim Zak-Zaky is "39-year-old 1979 gruaduate of economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in Kaduna state." Sheik Ibrahim Zak-Zaky was reportedly inspired by the Iranian revolution of 1979 but he is considered a moderate, although his mission is to turn Nigeria into a "wholly Islamic nation" (ibid.).

A 20 September 1996 Inter Press Service (IPS) report states that riots led to clash between the followers of El Zak-Zaky and the police and soldiers which resulted in the death of seven people including a police inspector and a soldier. A 30 September 1996 Agence France Presse (AFP) report states that "more than 70 supporters of Zak-Zaky have been arrested and 60 others have been charged with offences which carry the death penalty." According to this source, an educational and religious complex built by the Shi'ites was also demolished.

A 1 August 1997 AFP report states that Ibrahim Ahmed El Zak-Zaky and three other members of his sect appeared before the Federal High Court of Kaduna but he refused to plead for release (ibid.). For corroboration and additional information on this topic, please consult the attached doments.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 August 1997. "Début du procès du chef d'une secte chiite." (NEXIS)

_____. 30 September 1996. "Nigerian Authorities Demolish Fundamentalist Shi'ite Complex" (NEXIS)

_____. Inter Press Service (IPS). 20 September 1996. Remi Oyo and Toye Olori. "Tight Security in the North." (NEXIS)

_____. 14 September 1996. "Nigerian Shi'ites Moslems Say 14 Died in Protest." (NEXIS)

_____. 1 September 1996. "Dulue Mbachu. "Shi'ite Militants Make Their Presence Felt." (NEXIS)

Africa News. 21 October 1996. "Nigeria: Riots Rock Nigeria As Shi'ite Group's Complex Demolished." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 August 1997. "Début du procès du chef d'une secte chiite." (NEXIS)

_____. 25 July 1997. "Violents affrontements entre fondamentalistes et policiers à Kaduna (nord)." (NEXIS)

_____.14 January 1997. "Mise en garde du gouvernement de Kaduna aux fondamentalistes." (NEXIS)

_____. 30 September 1996. "Nigerian Authorities Demolish Fundamentalist Shi'ite Complex" (NEXIS)

_____. Inter Press Service (IPS). 20 September 1996. Remi Oyo and Toye Olori. "Tight Security in the North." (NEXIS)

_____. 14 September 1996. "Nigerian Shi'ites Moslems Say 14 Died in Protest." (NEXIS)

_____. 1 September 1996. "Dulue Mbachu. "Shi'ite Militants Make Their Presence Felt." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 23 January 1997. "Nigerian Police Arrest 100 Shi'ites Moslems." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 December 1996. "Nigerian Police Arrest Suspected Shi'ite Moslems." (NEXIS)