BY IBRAHIM FAGGE – The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II says stiffer punishment must be imposed on perpetrators of Gender-based Violence (GBV) in Kano State to serve as a deterrent to others.
He said it is unfortunate and heartrending that a larger percentage of cases pending before Shariah courts across the state were related to gender based violence.
Speaking when he received a delegation from the development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) and Center for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID), Bayero University Kano (BUK), on a courtesy visit backed by Ford Foundation, the respected Royal Father said plans are underway to review the family laws in the state to address potential inconsistencies and ensure they align with changing societal needs.
He explained that the planned review is targeted at addressing some of the existing and emerging challenges related to high rate of divorce and family relationships, among others.
Emir Sanusi said; “I never believe in beating women, and those who do are not beating their wives with the intention of reforming them. What we see today is even serious beating and injuring of women in the name of reforming them.
“Islam has respected and dignified women more than any other religion, and all those seeking cover under it to abuse women do not even understand the religion.
“Whosoever beats and injures his wife is not a good person. I did not say this, it is the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who said it. It is those who do not read who don’t know.
“Beating your wife or beating your daughter or beating a woman is prohibited. It is a crime. Let’s not even talk about using a handkerchief or a chewing stick. It is just haram. It is prohibited. Allah says, ‘All harm must be removed.’ And beating, gender-based violence is harm. And it must be removed.
“I have my own rules that any district head who lays their hands on their wife will be stripped of their traditional title. I therefore recommend that perpetrators be punished based on the level of atrocities committed.”
According to him, “During my Ph.D, thesis, which is on codification of Islamic family law, I studied nine Kano Shari’a courts over the period of five years, and the findings showed that the trend of GBV is rampant in our society”.
In his remarks, the CICID Director, Dr Taofeek Hussain, pleaded with the revered Monarch to advocate for implementing the family law in the state.
Also, Dr Hussain requested Emir Sanusi’s support to allow them train traditional title holders under his Emirate, on the roles they could play in addressing the menace of GBV in the State.
He said so far the Centre has trained Shari’a court judges and Islamic clerics on adjudicating on GBV-related issues, adding that the training has assisted and helped of those involved to deliver sound judgment with ease and fairness.
