GBV: What I told my daughters to do if thier husbands slap them – Emir Sanusi II

The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has reiterated his firm stance against domestic violence, declaring that he has instructed his daughters to retaliate if their husbands ever slap them.

Speaking on Monday at the National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention, held at Bayero University Kano, Sanusi underscored the importance of women defending themselves against abuse. The event, themed “Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for Ending Gender-Based Violence,” was organized by the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), with support from the Ford Foundation.

Sanusi revealed that he consistently advises his daughters before marriage not to report cases of being slapped by their husbands unless they have taken steps to defend themselves.

Highlighting alarming statistics, Sanusi noted that 45% of cases across nine Shariah courts in Kano over the past five years pertain to domestic violence, with women suffering severe injuries such as broken limbs and lost teeth due to spousal abuse. His research into family law further underscores the prevalence of domestic violence in many homes.

He said: “You can interpret certain verses to justify light beating, but in reality, no one adheres to the rules of restraint. What we witness are cases of severe violence where women are beaten, punched, and kicked. My research in Kano’s Shariah courts revealed that not one case involved ‘light beating.’ Instead, women suffered extreme harm, including broken bones and teeth.”

The Emir emphasized that any form of domestic violence, including beating, is explicitly prohibited in Isla.

“Beating your wife, daughter, or any woman is haram (forbidden). Violence against another human being violates their basic dignity. We must teach our daughters not to tolerate it and educate our sons that it is unacceptable.”

He added, “If my daughters are ever slapped by their husbands, they know I expect them to slap back. I did not send my daughters to be abused. If you dislike her, send her back to me, but do not raise your hand against her.”

Earlier, Dr. Hassan Karofi, Director of Partnerships and Strategic Communications, outlined the goals of the conference. The event aimed to use Islamic teachings to advocate for the prevention of GBV in Northern Nigeria through the Muslim Opinion Leaders for Gender-Based Violence Prevention Project (MOLS4GBV).

Karofi explained: “This initiative leverages the influence of religious leaders to challenge harmful cultural norms and promote justice and protection for women. By aligning Islamic principles with modern GBV prevention strategies, the conference seeks to foster dialogue and actionable solutions among faith-based organizations, youth groups, traditional leaders, and government bodies.”

The event, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, emphasized justice, dignity, and the safeguarding of women as central tenets of Islamic teachings.