The Kano Sharia police (Hizbah Board) has denied rumours alleging that the board has invited the recently crowned Miss Nigeria, Shatu Garko and her parents for participating in the beauty contest.
The Director General of the Hizbah Board Dr. Aliyu Musa Kibiya said this to newsmen in Kano on Wednesday.
He stated that the Hizbah Board never at any time invited Shatu Garko or her parents for questioning. However, he added that the commander of the Shariah police, Haruna ibn Sinai, in response to questions by newsmen was the one that preached against the beauty contest, saying it is sinful.
“We never at any time issued any instruction inviting her or her parents for questioning.
“It was a deliberate fake news. Hizbah only preached against the immoral acts of nudity and revealing the forbidden parts of the body of a wiman which is sinful” he stated.
It would be recalled that the Shatu Garko made history by becoming the first hijab wearing Miss Nigeria when she was crowned last week in Lagos.
Being the first ever female from Kano to partake in a beauty contest and the first to win, it became an issue especially in the northern part of the country.
Many condemned it as violating both the cultural and religious ethics of the people.
It went viral Tuesday that the Kano State Hisbah Board had invited the parents of 18-year-old Shatu Garko, for questioning.
It was gathered that the Commandant-General of the board, Harun Ibn Sina, said that participation in beauty pageants was against Islamic teachings.
He allegedly said, “We investigated and confirmed that the girl called Shatu Garko is from Kano State and an indigene of Garko Local Government area of Kano State where Hisbah is also working at.
“Islamically, it is totally forbidden because it goes against the teachings and practices of Islam. Immorality is practiced and it (beauty pageant) encourages the female gender to be immoral.”
Reacting, some Nigerians stated the Hisbah’s intention to invite Garko’s parents for her actions was uncalled for.
Former lawmaker, Sani Shehu tweeted, “Ms Shatu Garko contested Miss Nigeria pageant decently dressed. She has not crossed the line of our cultural standards here in the North. There are the daughters of the rich and the powerful that have done that with impunity. I appeal to the Hisbah religious authorities to let her be.”
Contributing to the matter, activist, Aisha Yesufu said, “So my daughter will participate in beauty pageant and Hisbah will invite me?! Kai! I laugh in unmade D! They will know that day that all of us have bed in psychiatric hospital! Nonsense and rubbish! Nobody has monopoly of violence and foolishness!”(sic).
Another tweep, FS Yusuf said, “Is this outfit unreligious?? What is Hisbah ambition in Northern Nigeria? Someone gotta put a stop to this oppression! What nonsense!?”
Surayyah Ahmad lamented on the alleged uneven application of the rules, saying, “The laws in Kano state are apparently just made for the poor. The ones whose parents are not excellencies or royal highnesses. If these laws are general we would have seen the Hisbah inviting all the rich parents.”
Meanwhile, journalist, Gimba Kakanda said the invitation was unnecessary as they are pressing issues affecting Muslims.
He tweeted, “I just feel Hisbah enjoy having Muslims, especially northerners, subjected to ridicule. Inviting Shatu Garko’s parents is absolutely unnecessary, no matter their intention. There are critical issues affecting the Muslim society, and none is a teenager partaking in Miss Nigeria.”
