Kano, Nigeria – Islamic police in Kano State have arrested nine Muslims for allegedly eating in public during fasting hours on the first day of Ramadan.
Okay News learnt that the arrests were carried out by the Hisbah, a religious police force that operates in Kano, one of 12 northern Nigerian states where Sharia law functions alongside the country’s secular legal system. Kano has a majority Muslim population.
According to the Hisbah’s deputy commander general, Mujahid Aminudeen, seven men and two women were detained on Wednesday after they were seen eating during the daytime fast. He added 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 is unclear how long the nine individuals will remain in custody. In previous cases, the Hisbah has contacted families of detainees after release to ensure compliance with fasting for the remainder of the holy month.
During Ramadan, Muslims are required to abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset. Fasting is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is regarded as a core religious obligation. However, exemptions exist for certain groups, including the sick, pregnant women, travellers and the elderly.
Each year during Ramadan, Hisbah officers conduct raids on cafes, restaurants and markets to ensure adherence to fasting rules. Some establishments remain open in predominantly Christian areas of the state.
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is considered sacred because Muslims believe it was during this month that the first verses of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Muhammad. In Nigeria, fasting began on 18 February and is expected to end around 21 or 22 March, depending on moon sightings.
