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.
I won't be surprise if several states
follow Kano's trend and impose Sharia laws even on its Christian
minorities. Today, it targets is immorality. Tomorrow, who knows? While
other terrible crimes like murder, molestation, theft, or fraud exist,
Kano is more concerned about 'sagging pants'. What do you think...is
jailing people necessarily an effective means of curtailing immorality?
Is sagging pants immoral?
Please leave your comments below. I would like to know what you guys think.
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