Wearing of turbans banned in the Far North

The measure is aimed to improve the fight against terrorist acts.

Hunting vehicles with tinted windows and people in turbans are now the measures launched in the Far North region. These new measures to strengthen security were sanctioned after the Regional Coordinating Committee of maintaining order and security (Cco) held a meeting from 25 to 26 June 2015 in Kaele.

Gathered around the governor Midjiyawa Bakari, military officials and other defense forces examined all the practices and behaviors that breach security.

According to a senior officer, the purpose of the operation is on the one hand, to prevent terrorist acts as Boko Haram has changed its strategy, and secondly, to minimize the fears people have. The governor made it clear that the trigger for these actions are the attacks in Ndjamena on June 15, 2015, with an official death toll of around thirty people and hundreds injured.

"Boko Haram has changed strategy because of the offensive by our defense forces and we found it useful to meet again to also decide the strategy to block the actions of the sect. We all mourn the attacks in neighboring Chad," observes Midjiyawa Bakari.

As the drastic measures are already in force, "we prohibit the movement of cars with tinted windows. But also wearing of turbans. There are people who are completely buried in their clothes so that one can not distinguish whether he or she is a woman or a man. These habits will not have a place in the Far North region. It is necessary that those who wear turbans reveal their faces to make them easily recognizable. We do not admit people who fully cover their faces," notified the governor.

Firm instructions have been given to the prefects and military officials that such measures are to be strictly respected in the Far North region, especially in the departments affected by insecurity namely Mayo-Sava, the Mayo-Tsanaga and Logone and Chari.

In the latter department, the ban on wearing turbans risks affecting habits. This outfit is a cultural element anchored in tradition in the department.

During the sitting of Kaele, besides the wearing of turban ban and the movement of vehicles with tinted windows, it was also decided that there will be an increase in the systematic checks in bus stations and other public places as well as curfew in neighborhoods in order to find other immigrants and illegal immigrants.

"We will also be checking the religious education of imams in mosques and also external funding of various mosques," the governor of the Far North region said.

It was also reported to the administrative authorities that some refugees at the Minawao camp deserted the place to meet in the neighbourhoods without identification cards as refugees. Instruction was given by the Governor for a thorough hunt for perpetrators.