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Emir of Kano Calls for Harsher Punishment for Gender-Based Violence Perpetrators, Declares No True Muslim Beats His Wife
The Emir of Kano, His Highness Muhammadu Sanusi II, has advocated for stricter penalties against perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Kano State.
He firmly asserted that no true and devout Muslim would ever lay hands on his wife, emphasizing that the growing trend of violence against women is both alarming and unacceptable.
The Emir made this passionate call on Monday, July 21, while receiving a delegation from the Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) and the Bayero University Center for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID).
The delegation visited the palace as part of their advocacy initiative under a project aimed at mentoring Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) to actively combat GBV in predominantly Muslim states in Northern Nigeria. The initiative is being supported by the Ford Foundation.
In his remarks, Sanusi condemned the increasing cases of rape and domestic violence in the state, noting that such acts are contrary to Islamic teachings and the values of humanity.
According to him, “I do not believe in beating women, and those who do so are not doing it with the intent of correcting or reforming their wives. What we are witnessing today is outright brutality, leaving women injured under the guise of reform.”
He further emphasized the elevated status Islam grants to women, stating, “Islam has accorded women greater respect and dignity than any other religion. Those who hide behind Islam to justify abuse clearly misunderstand or have failed to grasp the essence of the religion.
It was the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) who declared that anyone who beats and harms his wife is not a good person. This is not my personal opinion, but a teaching of the Prophet himself. It is the ignorant who remain unaware of this.”
The Emir commended the advocacy project, describing it as timely and relevant, particularly in light of the rising GBV cases in Northern Nigeria. He stressed the significant role Islamic clerics, scholars, and Imams have to play in transforming societal attitudes and behaviors to eradicate gender-based violence.
He also used the occasion to challenge the delegation to intensify their efforts by advocating for the revival of the Kano State Family Law Draft. This draft, he explained, was specifically designed to tackle pressing GBV issues within the state. Sanusi pointed out that the solutions to these problems already exist within the rich resources of Islamic jurisprudence.
“All the legal frameworks we require are already embedded within Islamic jurisprudence. What is needed now is to extract these principles and compile them into a comprehensive draft that can be formally adopted and implemented,” he stated.
Drawing from his academic background, the Emir revealed that his PhD thesis focused on the codification of Islamic family law. As part of his research, he examined proceedings in nine Kano Shari’a courts over a span of five years. His findings, he disclosed, confirmed the disturbing prevalence of GBV in society.
“In response to these revelations, I have instructed all my district and village heads that any titleholder caught beating his wife risks being stripped of his title. This is a clear stance to discourage such despicable behavior,” Sanusi concluded.
Through this engagement, the Emir reinforced the urgency of confronting gender-based violence with both legal reforms and moral guidance grounded in the true teachings of Islam.