TheCable

The Kano Hisbah Board has arrested 11 persons for allegedly not fasting.

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is among the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for every Muslim.

However, persons who are sick, pregnant, travelling, breastfeeding and women who are in their menstrual cycle are permitted to skip fasting — but will make up for the numbers missed at a later time.

Elderly persons who are incapable of fasting are also exempted.

Lawal Fagge, spokesperson of the Kano Hisbah Board, told BBC Hausa 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.