Among commonly held misconceptions regarding the North of my dear nation Nigeria is that the North is pro-Islam and pro-Sharee’ah.

The reality is that Northerners, and by that the Hausa-Fulani, adopt only segments of the Sharee’ah they deem acceptable in their culture. The rest of the Sharee’ah they not only discard, but also persecute any Muslim who freely chooses to live by it.

A case of note is the illegality in the Sharee’ah of racial or ethnic discrimination. Yet, ethnicity is the thread on which the North thrives.

Another significant objection is that while the Sharee’ah encourages and permits a woman to embrace the Niqab ~face veil, the indigenes of Sokoto, the so-called seat of the Khaliphate, have placed a ban on the Niqab.

Yes, the Hausa-Fulani surpass France, Belgium and other non-Muslim nations in the disdain for the Niqab. The Niqab is unacceptable in Hausa-Fulani culture.

A woman who wears the attire is constantly harassed for not practising her religion to the directives of the culture – a clear violation of the constitutional right to freedom of religion.

This is rather curious for in public and private discourse, the North frequently blames the restrictions on Muslim worship on the Christian in Aso Rock. Nevertheless, that Christian plays no role in enacting the culture of the Hausa-Fulani.

It was for my choice of lifestyle vis-a-vis the Niqab that I spent 15 days in Sokoto State Prison from Monday, August 18, 2014, to Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

The details are here: My Incarceration In Sokoto | Part 1:

http://iamummsulaim.wordpress.com/2014/09/03/my-incarceration-in-sokoto-part-i/

Briefly, my neighbour Sirajo Aliyu, a Hausa-Fulani man, assaulted me during which I defended myself with a knife.

The Wamakko Police Division in Arkilla rather than take the case as violence against women, charged Sirajo and I with public disturbance. Unbelievable, but true.

On Monday, August 18, 2014 in court, the magistrate judge of Wamakko, Fatimah Suka, asked me to remove my Niqab ~face veil to which I agreed as she is a woman.

However, she insisted every other staff who were all men must see my face.When I tried to reason with her, she ruled me in contempt of court, saying I should be remanded in prison.

Sirajo Aliyu was discharged on pleading guilty.

While I was in Sokoto State Prison another twist developed. Hausa-Fulanis instigated a plot to retain me in prison indefinitely on the allegation that I am Boko Haram.

The details of that devious plot I have published here:

http://iamummsulaim.wordpress.com/2014/09/05/my-incarceration-in-sokoto-in-court-ii/

I sought means to have my story narrated in the media to Nigerians and the world. That was not possible; there was little I could do in prison.

On Tuesday, September 2, 2014, after 15 days in Sokoto State Prison, I regained my freedom.

Allah bless Nigeria.

The one and only,

Umm Sulaim

Publisher: Umm Sulaim’s Thoughts ~

http://iamummsulaim.wordpress.com/

Twitter: @Umm_Sulaim

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