By Deborah Nnamdi
The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has called for tougher penalties for perpetrators of gender-based violence (GBV) in Kano State, emphasizing that no devout Muslim should raise a hand against his wife.
Speaking at his palace on Monday, July 21, during a visit from representatives of the Development Research and Project Center (dRPC) and the Bayero University Center for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID), the Emir expressed deep concern over the growing cases of rape and domestic violence in the state.
The visit was part of an advocacy project supported by the Ford Foundation, which seeks to engage Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) in addressing GBV in northern Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim communities.
“I have never supported the beating of women. Those who engage in it are not trying to reform anyone—they are committing violent acts that leave women badly injured,” Sanusi said.
He reaffirmed that Islam upholds the dignity and rights of women and condemned the misuse of religious teachings to justify abuse.
“Anyone who beats or harms his wife is not a good person. This is not just my personal belief—it is the clear teaching of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Those who fail to understand this do so out of ignorance,” he added.
The Emir strongly endorsed the advocacy project and described it as both urgent and necessary in light of the increasing incidence of gender-based violence in the region.
He also called for the revival and enforcement of the draft Kano State Family Law, which he said addresses many legal gaps surrounding GBV. According to him, Islamic legal texts already contain the necessary protections—they only need to be compiled and codified for effective use.
Drawing on his doctoral research into the codification of Islamic family law, Sanusi revealed that over a five-year period, he reviewed nine Shari’a courts in Kano and found a high number of GBV-related cases.
He concluded with a stern warning to traditional rulers: “I have informed all my district and village heads that any titleholder found guilty of beating his wife will have his title revoked.”
