Hisbah to invite Shatu Garko’s parents over Miss Nigeria participation

The Kano state Hisbah board has announced plans to invite parents of Shatu Garko, the winner of 2021 Miss Nigeria, over their daughter’s “illegal” participation in the beauty pageant. Garko, who is from Kano, recently became the first hijab-wearing contestant to clinch the much-coveted crown since the pageant debuted in 1957.

In a chat with BBC Pidgin, Haruna Ibn-Sina, Kano Hisbah board commandant, said the invitation is to interrogate Garko’s parents over the action of their daughter. Ibn-Sina also said Garko’s participation in the beauty pageant is against Islamic tenets, adding that such act could encourage other girls to do same.

“We (Hisbah) has confirmed that Shatu Garko is a Muslim from Kano state and her parents come from Garko LGA. Kano is a Sharia state and this is why we will not allow the matter to die like that,” he said

“We will invite the parents to talk to them about the actions of their daughter and the fact that what she did is illegal in Islam. This is to make them know that she cannot continue that path and also stop other girls from copying her.”

To buttress his point, the Kano Hisbah commandant cited several verses in the Quran and teachings in Islam to show Garko’s action is “illegal”. “In Islam, it is forbidden for anyone to participate in a beauty contest. A lot of things happen in such contest which is against Islam. For instance, there is usually a lot of people usually exposure their body exposure during the event while such contest teaches girls not to be shy and reserved,” he added.

Ibn-Sina also claimed that the organisers of such beauty pageants are at the risk of God’s wrath.

Reacting, some Nigerians have said 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).

A Facebook user @Michael Onuoha said, “That lady needs to be evacuated from the north before stories that touches the hearts.”

@Oyenwere Ukeje said, “If I were the parents of Miss Garko,I would refuse to honour the invitation of the hisbah.

What Miss Garko did by participating in the beauty pageant is not against the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which is the ground norm.

The constitution is supreme and Nigeria is practising a constitutional democracy and should be seen doing so. Nigeria is not and cannot be a Taliban country.”