Use Ramadan sermons to preach against gender-based violence, clerics urged

The Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) has described the holy month of Ramadan as a vital period to raise awareness against gender-based violence (GBV) and advocate for the protection of women and girls within communities. During a stakeholders’ engagement on GBV from an Islamic perspective at the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue […]

The Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC) has described the holy month of Ramadan as a vital period to raise awareness against gender-based violence (GBV) and advocate for the protection of women and girls within communities.

During a stakeholders’ engagement on GBV from an Islamic perspective at the Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID), Bayero University Kano, Umar Ahmed Umar, Senior Programme Associate at dRPC, underscored the need to engage religious leaders in efforts to combat GBV.

“Ramadan is a time of increased religious gatherings, tafseer sessions, and deep reflection. We see this as a strategic moment to raise awareness about gender-based violence and emphasise the protection of women and girls in our communities,” Umar said.

Religious leaders, government officials, and civil society representatives at the event emphasised the crucial role of religious institutions in fostering awareness and advocating for justice for survivors of gender-based violence.

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Rashida Aminu, Head of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence at NAPTIP’s Kano Zonal Command, stressed the need for localised solutions while recognizing GBV as a global issue.

She further noted that religious scholars (Ulamas) who recently visited Egypt gained insights into how Islamic nations tackle GBV through legal and religious frameworks.

Dr Nuhu Abdullahi Uthman (Dr Giwa), an imam at a university in Kano, said Islamic scholars regularly discuss women’s rights, child protection and family justice within the framework of Islam, urging adherence to justice and the protection of the vulnerable.

With GBV cases on the rise in Kano, stakeholders at the event called for stronger legal frameworks to protect survivors and prosecute offenders, community-led initiatives to challenge harmful norms, and enhanced collaboration between religious institutions and law enforcement agencies.