45 Percent Of Cases Related To Gender-Based Violence – Emir Sanusi

45 Percent of cases related to Gender-Based Violence – Emir Sanusi

By Abba Dukawa

Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has threatened to depose any traditional title holder under the emirate council who beats his wife.

Sanusi also advocated for the urgent review of Section 55 of the Penal Code Law of Nigeria, which permits husbands to correct their wives due to the gross abuse of this provision in the Northern part of the country.

The section, as outlined in the Penal Code Law, allows a husband to “correct” his wife if it is within the bounds of lawful customs and does not cause “grievous hurt.”

The emir made this statement at Bayero University during the opening of the 2024 National Dialogue on the Role of Islamic Opinion Leaders in the Prevention of Gender-Based Violence in Northern Nigeria on Monday.

He also cited a documented case study conducted across nine Shari’a courts in Kano, which revealed that 45 percent of cases in the courts were related to Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

The Emir stressed that the research also indicated several instances where wives, as a result of violent abuse, suffered broken teeth and damaged jaws, while many were left severely beaten by their husbands.

Sanusi cited several provisions of Islamic jurisprudence that prohibit violence against women and insisted that the government must criminalize any act of maltreatment in marriage.

“A husband who beats his wife for any reason is being animalistic in nature. And if we get to a point in our society where people are not restrained from beating their wives, the government should make it a crime. It should be prohibited.

“In the 21st century, if the northern part of the country still holds Section 55 of the Penal Code, which allows a husband to beat his wife, such a section should be removed. Nigeria should emulate family laws from Islamic countries that prohibit such acts.

“When my daughters are getting married, I mostly tell their husbands, if you don’t like them anymore, send them back to me, don’t beat them.

My traditional title holders also know that if you beat your wife, you lose your title. At the same time, we must teach our girls to respect their husbands. Marriage is built upon love, mercy, and mutual respect between husband and wife,” Sanusi added.

Dr. Taofeek Abubakar Hussein, Director of the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue at Bayero University, Kano, stated that the center is committed to promoting understanding of the role of Islamic scholars in combating gender violence.

Dr. Hassan Karofi, Director of Partnership and Strategic Communications at the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), explained that the event was part of 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence in Northern Nigeria.

With the theme, “Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for the End of Gender-Based Violence,” the event, according to Karofi, aimed to strengthen the voice of Islamic Opinion Leaders against gender-based violence in the region.