GBV: “If Your Husband Slaps You, Slap Him Back” — Emir Sanusi

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has urged women to defend themselves against domestic violence, stating that he has advised his daughters to retaliate if their husbands ever strike them. Speaking at the National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) held at Bayero University Kano, the Emir emphasized the need to eliminate violence against women in all forms.

The conference, themed Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for Ending Gender-Based Violence, was organized by the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) and supported by the Ford Foundation. Addressing the audience, the Emir highlighted alarming statistics from his doctoral research, revealing that 45% of cases before nine Shari’a Courts in Kano over five years involved domestic violence and wife beating.

Drawing on Islamic teachings, the Emir criticized misinterpretations that condone violence, stating that many perpetrators exceed any acceptable boundaries. “In these cases, we found women whose limbs were broken, teeth knocked out, and others subjected to relentless assaults. This is not light beating. It is criminal,” he said.

He condemned the normalization of such acts, declaring, “Beating your wife, daughter, or any woman is prohibited. It is a crime. Allah has made all harm haram, and gender-based violence falls within this prohibition. Violence against any person violates their basic dignity as a human being.”

The Emir reiterated his personal stance, saying he had instructed his daughters not to tolerate abuse. “When my daughters get married, I tell them, ‘If your husband slaps you and you don’t slap him back before coming to me, I will slap you myself. I did not send you to be anyone’s punching bag. If your husband cannot respect you, he should send you back to me.’”

He further called for societal change, urging parents to raise both sons and daughters with a clear understanding that violence is unacceptable. He underscored the importance of instilling respect for human dignity and fostering an environment where women feel safe and protected.