Challenges to a regime's authority
Parallel legal systems can create difficulties for for a regime. Competitions for the legitimate use of power within a state are not unusual, but there are not often legitimate challenges to a government's judicial powers.How would your students analyze the impact of Hisbah in Nigeria or the Basij in Iran?
Cracking down on Nigeria's 'pleasure island'
"The Sharia police, or Hisbah, say they will soon commence raids in an enclave in northern Nigeria's ancient Muslim city of Kano - dubbed by locals as 'pleasure island'.
"The Hisbah have given themselves the task of enforcing morals and Islamic law in the city, but so far have largely left Sabon Gari, or New Town, alone, complete with its bars, brothels and night-clubs...
"Sabon Gari has always been a district populated by "settlers" or non-Muslim southern traders and professionals who have settled and worked in Kano...
"Sabon Gari also happens to be one of Kano's biggest ghettos, with blocked sewers, gullied streets and piles of rubbish on almost every street corner...
"Kano is among a dozen states in northern Nigeria practising Sharia law, despite initial strong opposition from the federal government, Christians and human rights groups...
"The BBC News website learnt that some Muslims often cross the religious divide - under the cover of darkness - from the Sharia part of Kano to Sabon Gari for dancing, alcohol and sex.
"I often bring many of them here at night to drink," says Mohammed, a taxi driver in the city.
"It's an open secret, my brother. The code is thou shall not be caught," he says with a knowing smile...
"[Abubakar Rabo Abdulkarim, who is in charge of operations at the Hisbah] says other societies may tolerate sex workers, but his green-uniformed Hisbah will not allow Kano to become the modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah.
"However, there is yet another district where Mr Abdulkarim and his band of Hisbah volunteers will not go, even if they rid Sabon Gari of its 'sinful' night life - the army and police barracks.
"These also boast small "mammy markets", where alcohol is freely sold and sex-workers operate unhindered.
"It is unlikely that Mr Abdulkarim's unarmed patrol teams could venture into these enclaves, suggesting Kano will continue to implement Sharia in patches for a long time to come."
See also:
- A 2001 BBC report on sharia in Kano
- The Nigeria Muslim Forum on "Shariah in Nigeria"
- A report on a June 2007 conference on Sharia in Abuja
Labels: Nigeria, rule-of-law
posted by Ken Wedding @ 8:34 AM
1 Comments:
A footnote to the story on sharia in Nigeria from the BBC.
Nigerian clash over cleric death
"Clashes have broken out in the northern Nigerian city of Sokoto after a high profile Muslim preacher was shot dead.
"Members of Sunni and Shia sects have fought a pitched battle with one of the three suspected gunmen beaten to death...
"There has been regular friction between Sunnis and Shias in northern Nigeria, and civic leaders are meeting on how to calm tensions..."
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