Sharia Court Judges must give protection to GBV victims – Lawyers
KADUNA – Some legal practitioners in Kano and Kaduna states have advised Sharia court judges to give more protection to victims of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) so as to curtail the menace.
One of them, Aisha Tijjani said Sharia Court Judges have a vital role to play in preventing Gender-Based Violence.
She said in an interview on the sidelines of a seminar organised for the Sharia court judges from Kano and Kaduna states that the lower court remains the primary recourse for victims seeking justice, as such should be given adequate protection.
The seminar, organised by Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) in collaboration with Ford Foundation West Africa, was aimed at educating the Sharia court judges on the Islamic perspectives in addressing GBV.
Tijjani said that Islamic law empowers individuals to seek redress and holds perpetrators accountable, as such the Sharia judges should take their role seriously by standing firm on the cause of justice as instructed by Allah.
“Our judges must recognize the unique challenges women face in northern Nigeria, where GBV takes on particular forms,” she said.
“Through sensitization, we hope judges will understand these nuances better and administer justice accordingly,” Tijjani, a memeber of Muslim Opinion Leaders (MOLs) On Gender Based Violence Prevention added.
She emphasised that GBV is not confined to culture, religion, or geography, adding that “all women, regardless of background, are at risk of violence.
“Judges must consider why a woman is driven to leave her marital home before requiring witnesses, especially in cases where abuse happens behind closed doors. Failure to do so may allow perpetrators to avoid accountability.”
The Syndicate reports that during the seminar, prominent Islamic scholars, including Dr. Toafik Abubakar Hussaini from Bayero University Kano, echoed this call.
He cited the example of Egypt, where effective collaboration between religious scholars and the judiciary has strengthened GBV protections.
Hussaini advocated for similar partnerships in Nigeria to improve GBV responses within Sharia courts.
The Project Coordinator, Ahmed Abdullah Ahmed of MOLs for GBV Prevention, expressed optimism about the seminar’s outcomes, highlighting the importance of integrating Islamic perspectives on GBV prevention into the legal framework.
“This initiative aims not to impose new regulations but to enhance Sharia judges’ understanding of GBV, empowering them to address cases effectively,” he said.
He said that the gathering of 50 Sharia court judges from Kaduna and Kano states, was a significant step in the ongoing efforts to mitigate GBV in northern Nigeria through education and judicial reform.
In a separate interview, Abubakar Abdulsalam, known as Baban Gwale, the Dean of the School of Islamic Studies, Aminu Kano College, highlighted discussions between Muslim opinion leaders and scholars in Egypt on addressing gender-based violence (GBV) from an Islamic perspective.
He stressed the need for Sharia judges in northern Nigeria to follow Islamic teachings based on the experiences of scholars in Egypt, to address GBV effectively.
Imam Maroof Raji from Kaduna appreciated the dRPC’s efforts on the GBV project, advocating for educational empowerment for women, stronger laws, and enhanced training for judges to improve justice outcomes for GBV victims.
Also, Tahir Tahir, Director General of Kaduna State Interfaith Bureau, noted that during his visit to Egypt, he saw comprehensive protections for women against GBV.
He therefore emphasised the need for Nigerian judges to improve engagement and knowledge sharing on the handling of GBV cases based on the circumstances of the cases and Islamic law perspective.
Tahir noted that women avoid going to court due to harsh treatment meted on them by the judges, which more often than not was worse than the abuse they face at home.
