In Kano, Nigeria, the Hisbah, or Islamic police, have arrested 25 individuals for openly eating and drinking during Ramadan, reinforcing strict adherence to fasting laws in the region.
Crackdown on Fasting Violations: Nigerian Muslims Arrested During Ramadan
Crackdown on Fasting Violations: Nigerian Muslims Arrested During Ramadan
Islamic police in Kano intensify enforcement against public eating and violations as Ramadan begins.
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In an ongoing effort to maintain the sanctity of Ramadan, authorities in Kano State, Nigeria, have launched a crackdown targeting Muslims observed eating in public. As Ramadan commenced, this initiative by the Hisbah, Islamic police, aims to ensure compliance with fasting protocols, which dictate abstaining from food and drink from dawn until dusk.
According to Hisbah's deputy commander, Mujahid Aminudeen, a total of 20 individuals were apprehended for non-compliance with fasting, alongside five others engaged in selling food during this sacred month. "These operations will persist throughout Ramadan," he noted, emphasizing their focus on maintaining the observance among Muslims. The Hisbah maintains a specific stance, declaring their actions are directed solely at Muslims and do not concern non-Muslim populations.
Aminudeen expressed disappointment at seeing adult Muslims consuming food publicly during a holy period, stressing the importance of respect for Ramadan traditions. "We will not condone this disrespect—it's heart-breaking," he stated. Those detained have since been charged in a Sharia court, facing potential penalties defined by Islamic law.
The Hisbah also reported arrests due to other perceived violations, such as inappropriate hairstyles, shorts above the knee, and mixed-gender passenger transport on tricycles. Last year, offenders were typically released upon pledging to adhere to fasting, but this year’s detainees are expected to face more stringent legal accountability.
Sharia law, incorporated alongside secular law over 20 years ago in Nigeria’s northern states with predominantly Muslim populations, does not extend to Christian minorities. Ramadan, a month of deep spiritual significance for Muslims, commemorates the Quran's initial revelations to Prophet Muhammad and is marked by fasting as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The fasting period traditionally lasts between 29 and 30 days, ending on March 30 this year.
In an ongoing effort to maintain the sanctity of Ramadan, authorities in Kano State, Nigeria, have launched a crackdown targeting Muslims observed eating in public. As Ramadan commenced, this initiative by the Hisbah, Islamic police, aims to ensure compliance with fasting protocols, which dictate abstaining from food and drink from dawn until dusk.
According to Hisbah's deputy commander, Mujahid Aminudeen, a total of 20 individuals were apprehended for non-compliance with fasting, alongside five others engaged in selling food during this sacred month. "These operations will persist throughout Ramadan," he noted, emphasizing their focus on maintaining the observance among Muslims. The Hisbah maintains a specific stance, declaring their actions are directed solely at Muslims and do not concern non-Muslim populations.
Aminudeen expressed disappointment at seeing adult Muslims consuming food publicly during a holy period, stressing the importance of respect for Ramadan traditions. "We will not condone this disrespect—it's heart-breaking," he stated. Those detained have since been charged in a Sharia court, facing potential penalties defined by Islamic law.
The Hisbah also reported arrests due to other perceived violations, such as inappropriate hairstyles, shorts above the knee, and mixed-gender passenger transport on tricycles. Last year, offenders were typically released upon pledging to adhere to fasting, but this year’s detainees are expected to face more stringent legal accountability.
Sharia law, incorporated alongside secular law over 20 years ago in Nigeria’s northern states with predominantly Muslim populations, does not extend to Christian minorities. Ramadan, a month of deep spiritual significance for Muslims, commemorates the Quran's initial revelations to Prophet Muhammad and is marked by fasting as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. The fasting period traditionally lasts between 29 and 30 days, ending on March 30 this year.
