Hisbah to probe staff for ‘promoting’ LGBTQ rights in Kano

Kano State Hisbah Board has constituted a panel of investigation to ascertain the alleged promotion of rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) leveled against a staff of the board.

Idris Ahmad Gama, a middle-level staff attached to the health unit of the board, was reported to have advocated inclusion and equal rights of all individuals while representing the board at a workshop organized by Women Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment and Equality (WISE) about two years ago.

Gama’s supposed comment tilted against violation of human rights, an alleged objective of WISE however resurfaced at a time the state government directed Hisbah to flush out groups or individuals promoting LGBTQ rights in the state.

Commander-General, Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, disclosed this in Kano while briefing journalists on the government’s position against any group or association promoting LGBTQ activities.

Daurawa had declared readiness to enforce the directive of the government against LGBTQ groups, and stressed that Kano will not endorse any agreement or association that contravenes Sharia and relevant laws of the land that prohibit same-sex marriage.

The Hisbah boss disclosed that a panel has just been constituted to investigate a staff member whose video went viral on social media supporting a group suspected of promoting LGBTQ in the state.

The Commander-General urged the public, religious and traditional leaders, media, and all relevant stakeholders to join the fight against immorality in the state.

Although, Daurawa explained that the accused staff denied being a member of any group or association advocating LGBTQ rights but confirmed that he was only invited to a workshop organised by WISE where women empowerment and human rights were discussed.

The Commissioner for Information, Baba Halilu Dantiye, said on Monday that the state governor had ordered a crackdown on all groups promoting LGBTQ activities in the state.

According to the commissioner, the activities of the group Women Initiative for Sustainable Empowerment and Equality (WISE) were a complete breach of the state’s moral standards and a violation of the Shari’ah.

The commissioner said the state government would not accept any agreement promoting the activities of gays and lesbians, as it contravened the norms and values of the people of Kano.