16th Emir of Kano, advises his Daughters to retaliate, if their husbands Slap them

 

Emir Palace, Kano

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, delivered a powerful message against domestic violence at a National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) organized by Bayero University Kano's Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC).

The former Emir highlighted the alarming prevalence of domestic violence in Kano's Shari’a courts, with 45% of harm-related cases involving wife-beating over a five-year period. He condemned the misuse of Islamic teachings to justify such violence, emphasizing that in many cases, the "light beating" permitted under specific conditions in Islamic jurisprudence escalates into severe physical abuse, violating the dignity and safety of women.

Sanusi took a firm stance, advocating for women to stand up against abuse. He stated that he advises his daughters to retaliate if their husbands hit them, underscoring that such behavior is both un-Islamic and unacceptable. He also called on society to teach boys and men that violence against women is prohibited in Islam.

The conference brought together religious leaders, traditional institutions, and community stakeholders to address GBV through Islamic teachings. The event aimed to realign cultural norms with principles of justice and dignity, empowering religious leaders to challenge harmful practices and promote the protection of women.

This initiative, led by the dRPC, leverages the influence of Muslim opinion leaders to foster dialogue and implement actionable strategies to prevent GBV in Northern Nigeria.