Anti-US protests hit Kano: Obama’s effigy, American flag burnt

Anti-America demonstrators, yesterday marched across some parts of Kano State capital to protest the production of an anti- Muslim film in the United States. The protest march which was generally peaceful, started off in the morning hours but terminated just at about midday, with protesters chanting anti – American slogans. The protesters burnt American flags and torched effigies of the US president, Barrack Obama.

The protestests began at Fagge Manssalachi Waje (Mosque) in the heart of the state capital through to Ibrahim Taiwo Road to Kofar Mata area and finally Kano Central Mosque. The demonstrators, who were largely of the Shitte Muslim Sect, similarly carried placards with anti -American inscription and messages, some of which were written in Arabic. They were later addressed by the leader of the Shitte Sect in Kano State, Sheik Mohammed Turi. Speaking to the protesters, he expressed anger and profound bitterness over the anti -Muslim film produced in America and held that the American government ought to have enacted laws to protect the values of other people.

According to him, if American authorities have laws that protect their own values, they are duty bound to promulgate laws that will protect the cherished values of people who do not share their values. He said that the protest was not just about Muslims but a demand for respect for mankind, warning that Muslims were not going to fold their arms and watch America devalue their religion. One of the leaflets condemning the film and distributed to onlookers read, “a great catastrophe has befallen the world” following the production of the film.

The leaflet declared that “the filthy hands of enemies of Islam were once again, “becoming restless and becoming impatient and frustrated with the daily, increasing radiance of Islam and the Holy Qur’an in the present world”. The spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force in the state, ASP Majiya Magaji could not be reached for comment, but the consensus was that it was generally a peaceful outing. It could be recalled that in the last few days, there have been protests in different parts of the Muslim world following the release of the film.