11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

Several northern states sanction enforcement of Sharia law by private state funded groups called Hisbah ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 23709]

"A number of states with expanded Shari'a laws sanctioned enforcement of such laws by private groups known as the Hisbah, which were funded by state governments. In some cases these groups had authority to make arrests, but they primarily served as traffic wardens and helped regulate commercial activity in the marketplace. The Hisbah groups were active during the year in Zamfara, Niger, and Kano States."

Document(s): Open document

14.09.2007 - Source: US Department of State

A number of states with expanded Shari'a laws sanctioned law enforcement by groups known as the Hisbah ("International Religious Freedom Report 2007") [ID 21306]

"A number of states with expanded Shari'a laws sanctioned enforcement of such laws by groups known as the Hisbah, which are funded by state governments. In some cases these groups have authority to make arrests but primarily serve as traffic wardens and help regulate commercial activity in the marketplace. The Hisbah groups were active during the period covered by this report in Zamfara, Niger, and Kano States."

Document(s): Open document

06.03.2007 - Source: US Department of State

In some cases hisbah groups had authority to make arrests ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2006") [ID 19731]

"A number of states with expanded Shari'a have long sanctioned private vigilante Shari'a enforcement groups (hisbah); in some cases these groups had authority to make arrests. The hisbah groups were not very active during the year, although they often served as traffic wardens, especially in Kano."

Document(s): Open document

08.11.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Hisbah groups are generally only empowered to "advise" possible Shari'a offenders ("International Religious Freedom Report 2005") [#38877],  [ID 14675]

"A number of states with expanded Shari'a law have sanctioned private Shari'a enforcement vigilante groups (known as Hisbah). In some cases these groups have had authority to make arrests, but generally the groups are empowered only to "advise" possible Shari'a offenders. The Hisbah groups were not very active during the period covered by this report."

Document(s): Open document

15.09.2004 - Source: US Department of State

A number of states sanctioned private vigilante Shari'a enforcement groups, known as Hisbah ("International Religious Freedom Report 2004") [#26238],  [ID 14676]

"A number of states with expanded Shari'a law sanctioned private vigilante Shari'a enforcement groups (known as Hisbah); in some cases these groups had authority to make arrests. The Governor of Jigawa State mobilized a statewide Shari'a enforcement committee to arrest, detain, and prosecute Muslim offenders. The Hisbah groups were not very active during the period covered by this report."

Document(s): Open document

08.2004 - Source: US Commission on International Religious Freedom

No Hisbah groups in Kaduna or Bauchi; active Hisbah groups in Kano, Zamfara and Katsina states ("Nigeria") [#26360],  [ID 14677]

"There are no Hisbah groups in Kaduna or Bauchi states, but there are active Hisbah groups in Kano, Zamfara, and Katsina states."

Document(s): Open document

08.2004 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

Hisba controlls the compliance of the Scharia in Nigeria ("Nigeria - Länderbericht") [#28135],  [ID 14678]

"Die Überwachung der Einhaltung der Scharia wird vielerorten durch Gruppen junger Männer besorgt (Hisba). Diese sollen muslimische Straftäter arretieren und der Polizei übergeben. In Zamfara wurde beispielsweise eine Vigilantengruppe namens Yanagaji damit beauftragt für die Umsetzung der Scharia-Bestimmungen zu sorgen. (Marshall 2002, 22; USDOS 2003, IRF Sektion II). Die Hisba nehmen das Gesetz jedoch häufig in ihre eigenen Hände.

Die Hisba sind etwa dafür bekannt, dass sie verdächtige Personen häufig gleich vor Ort verprügeln (Asylum Aid 2003, 13). Im Februar 2001 etwa setzten Hisba einen LKW, welcher Alkohol transportierte, in Brand und stürmten das Büro der Nigeria Journalists Union in Kano, da sie davon ausgegangen waren, dass dort Alkohol serviert würde (IRIN 26. Februar 2001). Als im April 2001 mehrere Hotels in Kano unter dem Verdacht des Alkoholbesitzes von Hisba-Mitgliedern gestürmt wurden22, äußerte sich selbst der Gouverneur, Kwankwaso, besorgt über diese Befugnisüberschreitung (IRIN 18. April 2001). Im Juni 2003 stürmten Duzende von Hisba Mitgliedern eine Polizeistation in Kano Stadt, um einen ihrer Anhänger aus der Haft zu befreien. Die Hisba konnten schließlich von zusätzlichen Polizeikräften zurückgeschlagen werden und 32 ihrer Mitglieder wurden arretiert (AllAfrica.com/Daily Trust 04. Juni 2003)."

Document(s): Open document

07.10.2002 - Source: US Department of State

Sharia vigilante groups, Hizbah in Kano ("International Religious Freedom Report 2002") [#8895],  [ID 14679]

"Vigilante groups were formed to enforce the new Shari'a laws, and in some cases, punish offenders. Some of these vigilante groups were state-sanctioned. These groups still exist; however, their activities decreased during the period covered by this report.

In Kano State, an unofficial vigilante group known as Hisbah began taking action against both Muslims and Christians who violate the new Shari'a laws. There were no reports of Hisbah actions against Muslims or Christians during the period covered by this report."

Document(s): Open document

05.2001 - Source: Schweizerische Flüchtlingshilfe

Inability of police to protect groups at risk and to control crime strengthens vigilante groups [ID 14681]

"Nicht nur bei den ethno-politischen oder religiösen Unruhen zeigt sich die Polizei meist unfähig den bedrohten Gruppen den Schutz zukommen zu lassen, der ihnen durch die Verfassung garantiert wird, auch die ganz gewöhnliche Kriminalität ist außer Kontrolle geraten. Dies öffnet Vigilant Groups und Selbstjustiz Tür und Tor. Beispielsweise konnte die Polizei nicht verhindern, dass die Hisbah im Januar letzten Jahres einen christlichen Händler, für den Besitz einer Flasche Gin öffentlich mit 80 Stockschlägen bestrafte. Auch attackierten Mitglieder der Hisbah Hotels in Kano, weil sie diese verdächtigten, Alkohol zu lagern. Bei den jüngsten Unruhen in Jos sahen die Behörden und die Polizei den Gewaltakten mehr oder weniger tatenlos zu, und es wird ihnen vorgeworfen, nichts oder nicht genug zur Beendigung respektive zur Eindämmung der Gewalt getan zu haben. Im Falle der Unruhen von Jos werden der Polizei zusätzlich extralegale Verhaftungen und sogar extralegale
Hinrichtungen vorgeworfen."

Document(s): Open document

22.02.2001 - Source: Christian Science Monitor

Muslim vigilantes in Zamfara [ID 14682]

"Bands of vigilantes in frayed red uniforms, armed with homemade machetes, whips, and clubs, roam this poor and parched state on the edge of the Sahara, detaining anyone suspected of misconduct.
The list of possible offenses is long, and justice is swift and severe. In the past year, one cattle thief lost a hand, an unwed teen mother received 100 lashes, and countless other men and women endured similar public lashings for lesser transgressions.
Not surprisingly, crime has plummeted by more than half."

Document(s): Open document