The Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria on Sunday called for the punishment of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria, also known as Shi’ites, for the December 2015 bloody clash with the Nigerian Army in Zaria.

The Sharia council made the call in a communiqué issued after their meeting in Kaduna.

According to Sheikh Yusuf Rigachikun who read the communiqué, the call for the punishment of the indicted members of Shiites is because shi’ism is not Islam.

Rigachikun said from the series of lectures by Muslim scholars, it was obvious that “Shi’ism is not Islam” and that Muslims should acquire the knowledge of their religion, “so that they are not derailed.”

He argued that even before the report of the panel of inquiry that looked into the clash, the Islamic sect had shown much signs of guilt citing the IMN’s boycott of the commission of inquiry as an indication of guilt.

The council also called on the government to release the White Paper on the crisis saying, “This will go a long way in curving the menace of Shi’a in our society.”

The communiqué read in part,”From the delivered lectures, it has become obvious that Shi’ism is not Islam and Muslims should acquire the knowledge of their religion, so that they are not derailed from the true teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

“Muslims should also respect and revere all the companions of the Prophet (SAW), and should protect their reputation.

“The council condemned in strongest terms the call by the Christian Association of Nigeria to its members to take up arms to protect themselves.”

Azeez