The Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith Dialogue (CICID), Bayero University, Kano (BUK), in collaboration with the Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), has convened an action research validation meeting aimed at addressing legal and religious justifications for violence against women.
Speaking at the event, Saudot Shehu Mahadi, Secretary-General of WRAPA, highlighted the pressing need to challenge deep-seated cultural and religious misconceptions that have been used to justify violence against women.
“In our 26 years of advocacy, we have observed that violence against women is often rationalized through cultural norms and misinterpretations of religious texts. However, as Muslims and Christians, we believe in a just God who does not permit harm or oppression,” she stated.
Mahadi emphasized that legal frameworks, including the Penal Code in Northern Nigeria and the Criminal Code in the South, often contain loopholes that allow harmful practices to persist. She added that WRAPA had commissioned experts to conduct an in-depth study on how these justifications have been upheld by law and religious misinterpretations.
The research, now completed, is undergoing validation by scholars, jurists, and academicians to ensure accuracy and explore strategies for dismantling these harmful beliefs.
Dr.Taufiq Abubakar Hussaini, Director of CICID, explained that the meeting gathered key Muslim scholars from various sects, including Izala, Salafiyya, Tijaniyya, and Qadriyya, as well as women’s rights organizations, to assess and refine the findings.
He stressed that the project aims to correct misconceptions, enhance marital respect, and promote peaceful conflict resolution, ensuring that unjustifiable violence is no longer excused under the guise of religious or cultural norms.
The findings from this validation process will inform future sensitization campaigns, legal reforms, and advocacy efforts to protect women, girls, and other vulnerable groups from violence and discrimination across Nigeria.
