Introduction
The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, has made a bold statement against domestic violence. Speaking at the National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) prevention, he emphasized that Islam prohibits all forms of harm, including wife beating. The event, themed “Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for Ending Gender-Based Violence”, was organized by Bayero University Kano’s Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID), in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), with support from Ford Foundation.
Sanusi’s Stand on Domestic Violence
The Emir shared alarming statistics from nine Shari’a courts in Kano over five years:
- 45% of cases involved wife beating and domestic violence.
- Many victims suffered severe injuries, including broken limbs and knocked-out teeth.
Sanusi criticized the misuse of Islamic teachings to justify wife beating. He clarified:
“Beating your wife or any woman is haram. It is prohibited in Islam. Allah commands that all harm must be removed.”
Raising Awareness Among Families
Sanusi revealed his advice to his daughters before marriage:
“If your husband slaps you, slap him back. If you come to me without retaliating, I will slap you myself. Violence against women is unacceptable.”
He stressed the need for parents to teach their daughters self-respect and their sons to respect women. According to him, violence undermines the dignity of human beings and must be eradicated.
Key Contributions from Stakeholders
The event highlighted collaborative efforts to combat GBV:
- Dr. Hassan Karofi, Director of Partnerships and Strategic Communications at dRPC, shared insights about their 22-year initiative.
- The Muslim Opinion Leaders for Gender-Based Violence Prevention Project (MOLS4GBV) trains religious leaders to challenge harmful cultural practices using Islamic teachings.
- Over 200 Muslim leaders have participated in study tours in Egypt to enhance advocacy skills.
- Dr. Taofeek Abubakar Hussain, CICID Director, emphasized correcting misconceptions about Islam by promoting peaceful and respectful treatment of women through dialogue among stakeholders.
The Conference’s Broader Vision
The National Dialogue Conference coincided with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. It aimed to:
- Align Islamic principles with contemporary GBV prevention strategies.
- Foster collaboration among religious leaders, traditional institutions, women’s groups, youth organizations, and government entities.
- Advocate for actionable solutions to curb GBV in Northern Nigeria.
Conclusion
Emir Sanusi’s outspoken stance against domestic violence challenges cultural norms while emphasizing the Islamic prohibition of harm. The conference showcased the power of community collaboration in addressing GBV and highlighted the critical role of religious leaders in reshaping societal attitudes.
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