The arrest of the leader of Ta’awunu Muslimeen follows the online publication of a video in which Sheikh Molaasan and his followers called for freedom for Palestine, which is currently under occupation by the State of Israel.
The video of the group raising the Palestinian flag had gone viral on social media and sparked intense debate, with many expressing security concerns over the activities of Ta’awunu, which has organised pro-Palestine activities in the recent past.
Ta’awunu, which positions itself as a group dedicated to Islamic teachings and global Muslim causes, had organised comparable protests, including a pro-Palestine event in 2018.
Participants in the Iwo march could be seen professing allegiance to the Qur’an and Sunnah, while certain actions in the video—especially the synchronised arm movements—have elicited criticism, with some drawing parallels to a Nazi-style salute.
The sight of children reciting fervent religious slogans during the march has exacerbated worries, particularly in light of Nigeria’s enduring security issues associated with religious extremism.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
