A Sharia court in the northern Nigerian state of Kano has issued a compulsory marriage order to a young couple accused of posting “indecent” and “immoral” content on the social media platform TikTok, a ruling viewed as a legal and cultural intervention against digital misconduct.
The court, whose jurisdiction covers civil and criminal matters under Islamic law, ordered the two individuals to formalize their union within 60 days. The ruling effectively substitutes the potential punitive measures associated with the charge of indecency with a socially acceptable solution.
The unnamed male and female TikTok creators were reportedly arraigned after their videos—which allegedly violated local moral standards and Sharia precepts—sparked controversy within the state.
A local source familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the ruling as a measure to “legitimize their relationship under Islamic law, thereby preventing the continuous promotion of immorality in the public space.”
The order serves as a binding ultimatum: if the couple fails to comply and marry within the two-month period, they face the likelihood of harsher penalties as determined by the court.
The decision underscores the heightened scrutiny and strict enforcement of public decency and morality laws in parts of northern Nigeria, particularly concerning content distributed across global digital platforms like TikTok.
