Eleven individuals have been apprehended by the Kano Hisbah Board in Nigeria for allegedly not observing the fast during the holy month of Ramadan.
Fasting is considered one of the fundamental pillars of Islam and is obligatory for all Muslims.
However, there are exceptions for individuals who are sick, pregnant, traveling, breastfeeding, or women experiencing their menstrual cycle.
These individuals are allowed to skip fasting but are required to make up for the missed days at a later time.
Additionally, elderly people who are unable to fast are also exempted.
According to Lawal Fagge, the spokesperson for the Kano Hisbah Board, the suspects, consisting of ten men and one woman, were arrested on Tuesday in various locations across the state.
The Kano Hisbah Board is responsible for enforcing Islamic law in the region.
Lawal Fagge, spokesperson of the Kano Hisbah Board, said that the suspects, comprising 10 men and one female were arrested at different parts of the state on Tuesday.
“Eleven people were arrested on Tuesday including a woman who sells groundnuts who we received a report of her eating part of what she sells in public,” Fagge said.
“The remaining 10 suspects are all men. They were arrested in different parts of the state, especially around markets where immoral things are committed.”
The Hisbah spokesperson said the suspects were later released after they all swore that they would not miss any day of fasting again on purpose.
He added that the Hisbah will continue to carry out patrol across the state.
“We don’t arrest Christians because fasting is not mandatory for them. However, any person caught selling food to a muslim who is expected to be fasting will be apprehended,” Fagge added.