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Ramdadan Brings Arrests For Eating In Egypt; Ridicule of Bachelors In Nigeria

By Howard M. Friedman

For the first time this year, Egypt's Ministry of Interior has begun arresting those caught eating or drinking in public during Ramadan. Al Arabiya reported Wednesday that in the governorate of Aswan, 150 Egyptians were charged with the misdemeanor of publicly breaking the fast. Many others were arrested in the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada where the governor ordered all restaurants closed during the day. Human rights groups criticized the arrests. One lawyer also said that the ban on eating "in public" might not cover those eating in a restaurant or cafe, since they are a closed place not seen by everyone.

Meanwhile Al Arabiya yesterday reported on a rather unusual Ramadan activity in Nigeria that apparently has received official sanction. The country's mainly-Muslim city of Kano each Ramadan holds a carnival title "kamun gwauro" (meaning "bachelor catch" in the local Hausa language). The hereditary Nalako (bachelors' hunter), wearing amulets, an animal skin, woven shirt and cap wanders around the city with a noose looking for unmarried men. Bachelors who are found are paraded around with singing and drumming and are forced to dance and sing a "bachelor song" to embarrass them into taking a wife.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on September 11, 2009 (boomark / email).