The Department of State Services (DSS) has detained Daood Imran Molaasan, an Islamic cleric based in Osun State, following a pro-Palestine demonstration in Iwo.
Molaasan, who leads the Ta’awunu Muslimeen group, was reportedly arrested after a video surfaced online showing him and his followers calling for the liberation of Palestine, which they described as being under Israeli occupation.
The footage showed the group marching through the town while carrying the Palestinian flag. The video quickly went viral on social media, drawing mixed reactions, with some users expressing solidarity with the Palestinian cause and others raising concerns over security.
Ta’awunu Muslimeen, which presents itself as a movement focused on religious teachings and global Muslim issues, has organised similar pro-Palestine rallies in the past, including one in 2018.
During the recent protest, participants pledged allegiance to the Qur’an and Sunnah. Certain actions captured in the video, including coordinated arm gestures, drew criticism from observers who compared them to Nazi-style salutes, while the participation of children chanting strong religious slogans added to public concern.
As of now, the DSS has not issued an official statement or revealed any charges against the cleric.
