Sharia Police, through its Commander-General, Nabahani Usman, has aired its plans to start arresting and detaining any adult seen eating in public places, as from Monday when the Ramadan fasting finally begins.
The Kano Hisbah head equally mentioned that the only conditions in which such arrested persons can be allowed to go scot-free are when they are able to show proof of exemption through a doctor’s letter, or an ulcer medical report.
While speaking with newsmen from BBC, Usman emphasized that even those with the exemption will be warned not to eat in public again, until the end of the fast.
Meanwhile, in some days back, the Hisbah police made arrests involving several sex workers and criminals in the state, in a bid to rid the state of unholy practices.
Usman further mentioned that Ramadan was a month where every Muslim is expected to fast.
He explained, “We do this kind of operation yearly and we will continue it this year. The aim is to get every Muslim to respect the month of Ramadan. Even if a doctor says you should not fast, that does not mean you should eat in public while others are fasting.
“So any Muslim that we apprehend eating outside, our men will arrest and bring the person to our office unless he can show proof that a doctor asked him not to fast.”
This year would not be the first time they would be carrying out such tasks in the state. Since the Hisbah police began operations under the former governor in 2001, similar tasks have been put in place to check “erring” Muslims.
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