Kano
Police Force have begun to strictly enforce Islamic law. Last week,
over 150 people were arrested for indecent dressing. Some people in
Nigeria’s second city were picked up “sagging their pants too low,” or
“sporting hair styles inspired by prominent international football
players,” a spokesman for Kano’s Sharia Police, Mohammed Yusuf Yola,
noted to the Associated Press.
This strict enforcement of the Sharia law is a part of the
government’s discipline method and curbing immorality. Other civilians
were jailed and fined for sagging their pants too low; the law sees this
act as an influence of some American hip hop artists, which is
unacceptable.
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Kano state Governor gave this ‘anti-crime’
order to the police department, in his effort to purge the city of
immoral acts and practices. The Sharia Police (Hisbah) Director, General
Abba Sufi noted that this patrol or order will continue in the weeks
ahead.
“We have arrested 150 men and women in the past week, including
prostitutes and their boyfriends, transvestites, alcoholics and those
engaged in indecent dressing in contravention of the sharia legal code,”
Yola told AFP.
Given that the governor is viewed as a moderate leader who has failed to
impose the Sharia rules, some politicians see this order as his
response. However, Yola, the police spokesman insisted that the
operation was launched “to reverse disturbing trends in the city of some
five million people and is targeting people of various faiths. Those
arrested include Muslims and non-Muslims and we treat them equally
because this is about morality,” he said.
Some of the arrested civilians were released after paying fines
ranging from 10,000-15,000 Naira ($60-$70). The spokesman also added
that the people who could not afford the fine remains in jail . He would
not specify how many people are currently detained.
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