Emir Sanusi urges men to respect dignity of women

The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, has reaffirmed that justice, fairness, respect and mutual understanding among couples is the only way out of the myriad of problems bedevilling the institution of marriage in the society. Speaking at an event tagged Kano Social Reform Project, organized by the Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative […]

The Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammad Sanusi II, has reaffirmed that justice, fairness, respect and mutual understanding among couples is the only way out of the myriad of problems bedevilling the institution of marriage in the society.

Speaking at an event tagged Kano Social Reform Project, organized by the Women’s Right Advancement and Protection Alternative in conjunction with the Centre for Gender Studies, Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Sanusi decried the “growing violence and maltreatment of women and children”.

The Emir said any society yearning for growth and development, must find a way of treating women and children fairly and just, pointing out that, Islam abhors  any form of discrimination, maltreatment and injustice against humanity.

This, he said, formed the basis for his agitation for the promulgation of laws that would enforce strict compliance with the doctrine of Islamic sharia such as violence against women and children particularly.

“A situation where an adult married a girl and gruesomely maltreats her is untenable, even as it is un-Islamic and must be condemned by all men of goodwill. We are not saying that a person has no right to marry a minor or teenager, but, what we are saying is that any husband must treat his wife or wives with respect and dignity in accordance with the religious injunctions,” he declared.

Islamic scholars from different sects and health experts presented position papers on their views and the way out.

Professor Hadiza Shehu Galadanci, a consultant gynaecologist in her presentation titled “Safe Motherhood in Teenage Girls,” explained that pregnancy is not an illness, but poor management of the pregnancy could lead to death.

Professor Galadanci who is the Director of the Centre for Advanced Medical Research, BUK also identified that early marriage was the causative agent of VVF disease among teenage mothers, advocating that as a way out, society must discourage early girl marriage, so that it would allow the hormones of the girl to grow before taking pregnancy.

In her presentation, the Secretary General of WRAPA, Hajiya Saudatu Mahadi, opined that, government must take drastic measures to address the growing incidence of violence against women, arguing that only strong legal backing in line with the provision of religious injunctions could stem the incidence.

Another scholar, Dr. Kabiru Abubakar, argued that VVF and other pregnancy related sickness had no linkage with the age of a person, and therefore debunked the insinuation that early marriage or teenage pregnancy was the cause of the sickness.

Some other speakers were of the opinion that Government should not limit the marriage age of a girl, arguing that, it might have economic and social repercussions.

The scholars argued that many parents, because of the level of poverty, could not afford to pay the school fees of their wards and so, they were left with no option than to marry them off, pointing out that if they allow them at home for longer period than necessary there would be a serious social problem.

However, the participants were quick to add that government should come up with other measures such as reducing or eliminating school fees and restoring school feeding among others.

A Communique read by Dr. Muhammad Babangida Muhammad, said the participants had noted the grave dangers of violence against women as well as the problem associated with violence against women.

It also noted that there was no consensus reached yet on the fixing of marriageable age, and that there was need for further consultations with a view to reaching a consensus.