Social media platforms have been abuzz with discussions on gender based violence after Emir Muhammadu Sanusi Il of Kano, publicly said he had instructed his daughters to defend themselves if they are ever physically abused by their husbands.
Emir Sanusi made this known at the national dialogue on gender-based violence prevention from an Islamic perspective with the theme: “Islamic teachings and community collaboration for ending gender-based violence.”
He disclosed that 45 percent of Shari’a Court cases in Kano involve domestic abuse, predominantly against women. Thereafter, he threw the bombshell by saying that “I tell my daughters to retaliate if their husbands slap them. I didn’t send them to marry somebody so he can slap them. If you don’t like her anymore, send her back to me, but don’t beat her.”
While some Nigerians in their responses on social media support Sanusi’s position, others opined that his advice to his daughters will instead intensify disputes between couples.
An X user, @Siazuibike in his tweet kicked against the emir’s advice, saying that “dear daughters, don’t listen to Emir Sanusi. If your husband slaps you, report him to the right quarters so he can understand the full consequences of his action. Never slap back or endanger yourself to more potential harm to your body or be held liable if you cause his demise.”
Some X users while stating their opposition to domestic violence, regardless of the victim’s gender, suggesting that women should leave abusive relationships and seek legal help if necessary. According to @DanielRegah on his X handle, he said “no one supports abuse, but telling or advising ladies to sl@p their husbands back will only escalate matters, which can endanger someone’s life. The lady should walk away from the relationship and take legal action if she wants. Retaliation has led to loss of lives.”
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Another X user @EMZO_001 said: “Any man who would first lay his hand on a woman has lost all his rights to be called a man. The emir telling his daughters to slap their husband back shows lack of respect and mutual understanding. As a lady, slapping a man back isn’t ideal because he can easily beat you up. Instead, leave the marriage or report to your dad or brothers to handle the man.”
However, supporting the emir, @Modibbo on his X handle and replying his critics, said: “Those of you that are complaining, why not just tell you daughter if her husband slaps you, turn the other cheek and say thank you after. I don’t know what brought slapping into marriage.”
@Abdalah_Nagere wrote on his X handle that “how can a sane husband slap his wife? Is marriage a guarantee for intimidation? Sarki Sanusi was even so soft that he advised for a slap back (if he even said so, which I doubt); if it was me, I would refer the husband to a psychiatric test and later, separation and imprisonment.”
Also, @hezprinz on his handle stated that “Emir Sanusi flips the script, telling daughters to slap back if slapped. A powerful message against domestic violence,” while @Ayanana tweeted that “all the men who are angry because of that statement are men you want to stay away from because why are you angry at a father who advised his daughters to sla*p their husbands if he sla*ps her?
“Your anger won’t raise one single dust, do the needful and train your sons to physically abu*use their wives and your daughters to remain silent when they are being physically assaulted by their husbands because that’s what you do to their mothers.”