Kano Hisbah Arrests 11 Muslims for Eating During Ramadan Fast, Rekindling Debate on Religious Enforcement!
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Kano Hisbah Arrests 11 Muslims for Eating During Ramadan Fast, Rekindling Debate on Religious Enforcement!
Reported by Mustapha Labake Omowumi (Journalist)| Sele Media Africa
The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 11 Muslims in Kano for allegedly eating in public during the Ramadan fasting period, an action that has once again stirred public debate about religious enforcement and civil liberties in northern Nigeria.
According to officials, the arrests were carried out as part of the board’s annual Ramadan enforcement operations aimed at upholding the sanctity of the holy month. Hisbah spokesperson Lawal Ibrahim confirmed that the suspects reportedly 10 men and one woman were apprehended at different locations across the city after being seen eating during daylight hours.
Details of the Arrests
Authorities said the operation targeted public spaces, particularly busy market areas where compliance monitoring is typically intensified. The female suspect was reportedly caught eating from her groundnut wares, while the male suspects were picked up in separate incidents.
The Hisbah Board maintains that its enforcement applies strictly to Muslims observing the fast and not to non-Muslims. Officials have repeatedly stated that exemptions exist for individuals permitted under Islamic law to miss the fast, including the sick, travellers, pregnant women, and the elderly.
In previous enforcement cycles, some offenders were released after signing undertakings to comply with fasting obligations.
Legal and Social Context
The Hisbah corps operates in Kano and other northern states that implement Sharia-based moral regulations alongside Nigeria’s secular legal framework. Supporters argue the enforcement preserves religious discipline during Ramadan, one of Islam’s Five Pillars.
However, civil society voices and some legal analysts have periodically questioned the balance between religious policing and constitutional freedoms, especially in cases involving public arrests.
Recurring Pattern
The latest arrests mirror similar crackdowns in recent years. Media reports indicate that Hisbah routinely conducts Ramadan monitoring operations, sometimes detaining individuals accused of eating, drinking, or selling food to fasting Muslims during daylight hours.
Broader Public Reaction
While some residents support the enforcement as necessary for maintaining religious order, others continue to debate its implications for personal freedom and religious observance in a plural society.
Sele Media Africa will continue to monitor developments and policy responses surrounding religious law enforcement in northern Nigeria.
Sources:
The Guardian Nigeria
Vanguard News
Punch Newspapers
BBC Hausa Service
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