The 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has made a bold and controversial statement against domestic violence, urging his daughters to defend themselves if ever abused by their husbands.
Speaking at the National Dialogue Conference on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention on Monday, Sanusi declared that no woman should tolerate abuse, even in the confines of marriage.
The conference, held at Bayero University Kano, was themed “Islamic Teachings and Community Collaboration for Ending Gender-Based Violence.” It was organised by the Centre for Islamic Civilization and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID) in collaboration with the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) and supported by the Ford Foundation.
Sanusi revealed that he has consistently advised his daughters to retaliate against any form of physical abuse.
“I have told my daughters not to report if they are slapped by their husbands unless they have retaliated,” he said.
He added that he did not raise his daughters to endure abuse in silence, stressing the importance of self-defence for women in abusive marriages.
Sanusi challenged men to treat their wives with respect and dignity. He warned abusive husbands to return their wives to their families rather than resort to violence.
“If my daughters are ever slapped by their husbands, they know I expect them to slap back,” he said firmly. “If you dislike her, send her back to me, but do not raise your hand against her.”
The Emir painted a grim picture of the prevalence of domestic violence in Kano State, revealing that 45% of cases recorded in nine Shariah courts over the past five years were related to spousal abuse.
“Women come to court with broken limbs and missing teeth,” Sanusi disclosed.
His research into family law showed that many homes are plagued by severe violence rather than the “light beating” some interpret as permissible in Islamic texts.
“You can interpret certain verses to justify light beating, but in reality, no one adheres to the rules of restraint,” he said. “What we witness are severe cases where women are beaten, punched, and kicked.”
The Emir unequivocally condemned domestic violence, stating that it is forbidden in Islam.
“Beating your wife, daughter, or any woman is haram (forbidden),” he said.
He added that violence against women violates their dignity and humanity. He called on parents to teach their daughters not to tolerate abuse and to educate sons that violence against women is unacceptable.
Sanusi’s statements have sparked conversations across Nigeria, with many applauding his courage to confront a taboo topic.
Others, however, have questioned whether retaliation is the best approach to solving the problem.
Nonetheless, his message is clear: no woman should endure violence in silence.
