The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has reaffirmed his stance on domestic viọ̄lence, declaring that he has instructed his daughters to retalịate if their husbands ever slàp them.
Sanusi made this statement on Monday at the National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Viọ̄lence (GBV) prevention from an Islamic perspective. The event, themed “Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for Ending Gender-Based Viọ̀lence,” was organized by the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID), Bayero University Kano, in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), with support from the Ford Foundation.
The Emir said he always warns his daughters before their marriages that they should not return to him with complaints of being slàpped unless they have defẹnded themselves.
Sanusi revealed trọ̄ubling statistics, stating that 45% of càses across nine Kano Shariah courts over five years were related to domestic viọ̀lence, including wife-bẹ̀ating. His research into family law highlighted the severity of these càses, with women suffẹring brøken limbs, lóst teeth, and other severe injurìes inflịcted by their spouses.
He said: “You can interpret certain verses to justify light beating, but in reality, no one adheres to the rules of restraint. What we witness are cases of severe viọ́lence where women are bèaten, pùnched, and kìcked. My research in Kano’s Shariah courts revealed that not one case involved ‘light béating.’ Instead, women sufféred extreme hárm, including brọ̀ken bones and teeth.”
The Emir emphasized that any form of domestic vịọ̄lence, including béating, is explịcitly prohibited in Isla.
“Bèating your wife, daughter, or any woman is hâram (fọ̀rbidden). Vịolence against another human being vịolates their basic dignity. We must teach our daughters not to tòlerate it and educate our sons that it is unâcceptable.”
He added, “If my daughters are ever slâpped by their husbands, they know I expect them to slâp back. I did not send my daughters to be abuṣed. If you dislike her, send her back to me, but do not raise your hand against her.”
Earlier, Dr. Hassan Karofi, Director of Partnerships and Strategic Communications, outlined the goals of the conference. The event aimed to use Islamic teachings to advocate for the prevention of GBV in Northern Nigeria through the Muslim Opinion Leaders for Gender-Based Vịolence Prevention Project (MOLS4GBV).
Karofi explained: “This initiative leverages the influence of religious leaders to challenge harmful cultural norms and promote justice and protection for women. By aligning Islamic principles with modern GBV prevention strategies, the conference seeks to foster dialogue and actionable solutions among faith-based organizations, youth groups, traditional leaders, and government bodies.”
The event, coincìding with the International Day for the Elimination of Viọ̀lence Against Women, emphasized justice, dignity, and the safeguarding of women as central tenets of Islamic teachings.
Peoplesmind
