VOA常速英语2007年-Nigerian Muslim Group Denies Terror Link

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
09 December 2007

A leading Muslim group in Nigeria has dismissed allegations by the country's secret police that several Muslim suspects in northern Nigeria are linked to terrorist organizations. The group says security agencies are out to slander¹ Nigerian Muslims and are calling on President Umaru YarAdua to intervene. Gilbert DaCosta has details from the Nigerian capital, Abuja.

In a statement, the Supreme² Council for Shariah in Nigeria described the allegations by the State Security Service, the SSS, as wild accusations³ instigated⁴ by vested interests within and outside Nigeria.

 

"We are complaining about double standards in the treatment of Muslims and Christians⁶ by the SSS," said Nafiu Baba-Ahmed, the spokesman for the group. "Secondly⁷, the implementation⁸ by the SSS of American agenda, which is to slander and molest⁹ Muslims, and label them terrorists, which happens to coincide with the agenda of the Christian⁵ Association of Nigeria. Innocent individuals will simply come and when arrested, hounded and put in underground cells. We are fed up."

 

Five Nigerian suspected terrorists, with alleged¹⁰ links to the al-Qaida terrorist network, were charged last month in Abuja. Prosecutors¹¹ say the suspects, Muslim men in their 30s, were trained in Algeria to attack targets in Africa's most populous¹² country.

 

Shehu Sani, a researcher in northern Nigeria with extensive knowledge of security issues in the Muslim-dominated region, says security agencies have a duty to investigate threats to national security.

 

"We are talking about the security situation in the country, we are talking about terrorism, we are talking about issues that have to with the possibility of the breakdown¹³ of law and order," said Sani. "The insinuation proffered¹⁴ by the Shariah Supreme Council is simply borne out of sentiments and illogical. What we have on ground in this part of the country is that organizations and groups are affiliated¹⁵ to groups outside the country, of which the government or security agencies have no knowledge of."

 

Western diplomats¹⁶ have warned that Nigeria, which has a large Muslim population, could become a breeding ground for international terrorist groups like al-Qaida.

 

Muslim leaders in Nigeria have reacted angrily to such insinuations.

1 slander   

n./v.诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• The article is a slander on ordinary working people.那篇文章是对普通劳动大众的诋毁。
• He threatened to go public with the slander.他威胁要把丑闻宣扬出去。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 accusations   

n.指责( accusation的名词复数 )；指控；控告；（被告发、控告的）罪名

参考例句：

• There were accusations of plagiarism. 曾有过关于剽窃的指控。
• He remained unruffled by their accusations. 对于他们的指控他处之泰然。

4 instigated   

v.使（某事物）开始或发生，鼓动( instigate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The government has instigated a programme of economic reform. 政府已实施了经济改革方案。
• He instigated the revolt. 他策动了这次叛乱。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

6 Christians   

n.基督教徒( Christian的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
• His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。

7 secondly   

adv.第二，其次

参考例句：

• Secondly,use your own head and present your point of view.第二，动脑筋提出自己的见解。
• Secondly it is necessary to define the applied load.其次，需要确定所作用的载荷。

8 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

9 molest   

vt.骚扰，干扰，调戏

参考例句：

• If the man continues to molest her,I promise to keep no measures with the delinquent.如果那人继续对她进行骚扰，我将对他这个违法者毫不宽容。
• If I were gone,all these would molest you.如果没有我，这一切都会来骚扰你。

10 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

11 prosecutors   

检举人( prosecutor的名词复数 )； 告发人； 起诉人； 公诉人

参考例句：

• In some places,public prosecutors are elected rather than appointed. 在有些地方，检察官是经选举而非任命产生的。 来自口语例句
• You've been summoned to the Prosecutors' Office, 2 days later. 你在两天以后被宣到了检察官的办公室。

12 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

13 breakdown   

n.垮，衰竭；损坏，故障，倒塌

参考例句：

• She suffered a nervous breakdown.她患神经衰弱。
• The plane had a breakdown in the air,but it was fortunately removed by the ace pilot.飞机在空中发生了故障，但幸运的是被王牌驾驶员排除了。

14 proffered   

v.提供，贡献，提出( proffer的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She proffered her cheek to kiss. 她伸过自己的面颊让人亲吻。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• He rose and proffered a silver box full of cigarettes. 他站起身，伸手递过一个装满香烟的银盒子。 来自辞典例句

15 affiliated   

adj. 附属的, 有关连的

参考例句：

• The hospital is affiliated with the local university. 这家医院附属于当地大学。
• All affiliated members can vote. 所有隶属成员都有投票权。

16 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》