A human rights and accountability nongovernment organisation, Global Rights, has condemned the recent actions of the Kano State Hisbah Board in arresting several people for alleged violations of Islamic law, including failure to observe the Ramadan fast, “indecent” haircuts, and allowing mixed-gender passengers in tricycles.
In a statement to journalists in Abuja Wednesday, the group’s executive director, Abiodun Baiyewu, described the actions as undemocratic and fundamentally incompatible with Nigeria’s secular status.
She said: “While we respect and uphold every Nigerian’s right to freely practise their religion, we reject any attempt to impose religious laws on non-consenting adults. Hisbah’s actions constitute intimidation and coercion, and such violations have no place in a democracy that guarantees freedom of religion, expression, and personal autonomy.”
According to her, Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution explicitly prohibits religious discrimination.
“Section 10 establishes that Nigeria is a secular state and prohibits adopting any religion as state religion. Section 38 guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, including the right to practise or not practise any faith. Section 42 further protects individuals from religious, ethnic, or sexual discrimination,” she said.
The Global Rights chief executive further noted that Nigeria is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which further reinforces these protections.
She pointed to Article 18, which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, stating that no one shall be subject to coercion that would impair their freedom to adopt or practise a religion of their choice. Article 26 prohibits discrimination of any kind, including based on religion, and guarantees equal protection under the law.
Baiyewu went on: “The arrest and detention of individuals over these so-called offences are a blatant abuse of power and a violation of fundamental human rights. We call on the Kano State Government to immediately rein in Hisbah, whose selective and discriminatory enforcement of religious edicts infringes on the rights of both Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
“We are forced to seriously question the wisdom of allowing bodies like Hisbah to operate in a manner parallel to the constitutional and legal framework of the country. It is our considered opinion that their continued existence and funding is an affront to Nigeria’s status as a secular state. Nigeria’s legal system has already defined what constitutes a crime, and it is not a crime—nor should it be—to choose not to fast during Ramadan, to wear a particular hairstyle, or to ride in a shared public vehicle with the opposite sex.”
She called for the immediate and unconditional release of those detained by Hisbah for such non-criminal acts.
“Furthermore, we call on the Nigerian public to resist any attempt to erode democratic freedoms under the guise of religious enforcement. The Nigerian Constitution remains the supreme law of the land, and all state institutions—including Hisbah—must operate within its bounds. Nigeria’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law requires the protection of all citizens from arbitrary arrests and religious coercion.
“We urge the federal and state governments to uphold these principles and ensure that all Nigerians, regardless of their religious beliefs, are treated equally under the law. We will continue to monitor this situation and advocate for protecting human rights in Nigeria,” she concluded.
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