The Kano Hisbah Board has insisted that mannequins used in tailors’ shops and boutiques across the state will remain banned based on claims that its u
The Kano Hisbah Board has insisted that mannequins used in tailors’ shops and boutiques across the state will remain banned based on claims that its usage contravenes the provision of Islamic injunctions.
However, an exception has been made for mannequins displayed without their heads with tailors instructed to rip off their limbs and conceal their shoulders before using them.
The Commander-General of the board, Harun Ibn Sina allowed for this exception in a press statement after a meeting with the Kano state chapter of the National Association of Tailors.
“The Kano State Hisbah Board, in accordance with the Act that established it in 2001 (as amended in 2003), has banned the use of any mannequin that resembles human body, male or female,” the statement read.
“However, tailors can use mannequins without heads on them, that one is allowed. This is part of the major issues we discussed with the tailors during our meeting with them,” the statement added.
The religious police also warned that it would start raiding such places to remove them, describing the use of the mannequins for advert purposes as idolatry.
In June 2021, the Hisbah announced a ban on the use of mannequins to display clothes by tailors, supermarkets and boutique owners in the state.
The group asserted that it violated Islamic provisions and was responsible for immoral thoughts among some members of the public.
Harun Ibn Sina said those who insist on using mannequins must rip off their limbs, heads and keep their shoulders concealed.
“Some took it as mere fashion. If you make a human structure and display clothes with it in the front of your shop, it’s prohibited in Islam. Except you removed the head and ensure the breasts or shoulders are covered.” he said.
“This is so one won’t look and start feeling things. Hisbah tries to enlighten the tailors about these. It’s important that they obey. They’re supposed to believe what we have said because it is in the context of the Holy Quran.
“It’s nothing more and nothing less. If they insist on using mannequins, they should remove the head because it can not be human without the head. If it’s female, don’t allow the breasts, backside, leg, or chest to be exposed.
“Do that and there’s no problem. At the meeting, most of the tailors understood what we were trying to enlighten them about. They pledged to abide by this. Kano is 99 percent Muslim. Non-Muslims are not in the majority.
“So they are confident in what we say. They’re law-abiding because we’re working hand-in-hand.”
Questioned on how its ban affects non-Muslim tailors, the commander-general said he is confident in his approach for such cases.
“This regulation covers non-muslim tailors. That percentage, we will reach out to them and explain. I know there’s a percentage whose cases are brought here in terms of disagreements between them. We solve it amicably,” he said.
“We work for both Muslims and non-muslims. As long as you continue to live in Kano, you must abide by the laws of the state. We live peacefully with non-muslims but, when we meet non-compliant ones, we’ll know what to do.
