KANO/NIGERIA
Islamic police in Nigeria’s northern state of Kano have arrested nine Muslims accused of eating in public during the first day of this year’s Ramadan fast.
The arrests were carried out on Wednesday by the Hisbah, a religious enforcement body that operates in Kano, a predominantly Muslim state where Islamic law (Sharia) functions alongside Nigeria’s secular legal system.
According to officials, the nine detainees — seven men and two women — were found eating during daylight hours, when Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset.
Hisbah Deputy Commander General Mujahid Aminudeen told the media that those arrested claimed they were unaware that Ramadan had begun.
“We have arrested them and they are with us, where we are going to be teaching them the importance of fasting, how to pray, read the Quran and become better Muslims,” he said.
It remains unclear when the detainees will be released. In previous similar cases, Hisbah officials have contacted families of those arrested to ensure monitoring after release so that they observe the fast for the remainder of the month.
The Hisbah routinely conducts inspections of cafes, restaurants, and markets during Ramadan to enforce compliance among Muslims. However, some establishments remain open in parts of Kano with significant Christian populations. Sharia law was introduced just over two decades ago in 12 northern Nigerian states, all of which have majority Muslim populations, to operate alongside the country’s secular legal framework.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, holds deep religious significance for Muslims. It is believed to be the month in which the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
The fasting period lasts 29 or 30 days each year. In Nigeria, Ramadan began on Wednesday, February 18, and is expected to conclude on either March 21 or 22, depending on the sighting of the moon.
Torch Media Africa
