Police
Said Here On Tuesday That There Was No Law That Prohibits One From Eating
Publicly At Daytime During The Holy Month Of Ramadhan, Explaining That The
Arrest Order Was Only Meant For Those Smoking Marijuana.
The
Explanation By Zanzibar Police Commissioner CP Hamad Khamis Hamad Comes After
Days Of Confusion Over Reports That Several People Were Arrested In Zanzibar For
Eating In Public During The Holy Month Of Ramadan.
The
Police Had Earlier Said That The Arrests Were Made After An Investigation
Prompted By A Circulated Video Showing People Eating During Daylight Hours In Mnazi
Mmoja Square, Violating The Fasting Norms Of Ramadhan.
Those
Who Were Reported To Have Been Arrested For Eating Publicly During Daytime Are Issa
Hamad Juma (40) From Kikwajuni, Hamad Hamis Indole (25) From Mtwara, Hashimu
Bakari Nassoro (35) From Kwarara; And Selemani Ismail Nalinga (34) From Magogoni,
Among Others.
The
Confusion Was So Tense That The State House Was Once Compelled To Issue A
Statement Condemning The Alleged Harassments.
However,
Mr Hamad Said On Tuesday April 2 That While Some Reports Claimed The Operation
Targeted People Eating In Public During Daylight Hours Of Ramadan, The Story
Was Actually A Different One.
"There
Is Absolutely No Law Prohibiting People From Eating During Ramadan," He
Asserted.
"The
Recent Operation Stemmed From A Disturbing Video Showing Individuals Smoking
Marijuana In Public," He Explained. "Marijuana Is A Criminal Offense,
And I Ordered An Operation To Apprehend Those Involved."
CP
Hamad Acknowledged An Unfortunate Consequence Of The Operation. "The Issue,"
He Admitted, "Is That It Ended Up Arresting Both Those Smoking Marijuana
And Others Simply Eating In Public."
He
Further Clarified The Role Of The Zanzibar Police In Such Situations. "Other
Government Agencies Conduct Operations Targeting Public Eating During Ramadan,"
He Said, Citing Another Recent Incident Involving The Arrest Of Maasai Hawkers
At Darajani. "Our Role Is To Ensure These Operations Are Conducted
Peacefully And Safely."
He
Did Not Reveal Whether 12 Individuals Who Were Arrested Have Been Released Or
Taken To Court As It Had Been Communicated Earlier.
Meanwhile,
The Zanzibar Tourism Commission, Also Joined In The Act After It Fined Organisateur
Francophone Tours And Travel A Fine Of $500 For Violating The Commission's Guidelines
And Allowing Tourists To Eat In Public During This Holy Month Of Ramadhan.
"Despite
Issuing Guidelines And Directives For Tourism Businesses To Follow, The Company
Allowed Guests To Eat In Public.”
The
Commission Imposed A Fine Of $500 And Immediately Suspended A Tour Guide, Khamis
Kahogo, From Conducting Any Tourism Activities For Three Months.
"The
Zanzibar Tourism Commission Emphasizes The Importance Of Respecting The Customs
And Traditions Of The Islands Of Zanzibar, Especially During The Ramadhan Period,
To Promote Good Relations With The Surrounding Communities," The Statement
Further Read.