The Kano State Hisbah Board says it will soon invite the parents of Shatu Garko, the winner of the 2021 Miss Nigeria beauty pageant to explain their daughter’s participation in the programme.
Garko, who is an indigene of Kano, is currently the talk of the town after she became the first hijabi to clinch the crown in its 64-year history.
However, the Commandant of Kano Hisbah Board, Haruna Ibn-Sina, described her participation in the pageant as “anti-Islam” and “illegal”.
According to him, Garko’s participation in the pageant could encourage other Muslim girls to toe the line.
He said the 2021 Miss Nigeria’s parents would be invited to face interrogation over their daughter’s action.
“We (Hisbah) have confirmed that Shatu Garko is a Muslim from Kano state and her parents come from Garko LGA. Kano is a Sharia state and this is why we will not allow the matter to die like that.
“We will invite the parents to talk to them about the actions of their daughter and the fact that what she did is illegal in Islam. This is to make them know that she cannot continue that path and also stop other girls from copying her,” he told BBC Pidgin.
The Hisbah commandant cited verses in the Quran to back up his assertion.
“In Islam, it is forbidden for anyone to participate in a beauty contest. A lot of things happen in such contest which is against Islam. For instance, there is usually a lot of people usually exposure their body exposure during the event while such contest teaches girls not to be shy and reserved,” Ibn-Sina said.
He further warned the organisers of Miss Nigeria pageant to desist from the act or face Allah’s wrath.