Malam Ahmad Bamalli, the Emir of Zazzau, has called for a revisit of the abandoned Kano Muslim Personnel Law, to enhance women’s rights in Northern Nigeria.
The royal father made the call for the revisit of the abandoned Muslim Personnel Law when a delegation from the Development Research Project Center (DRPC) paid him a courtesy visit in Zaria on Wednesday.
The delegation was led by Dr Taofeeq Hussaini, the Director, Centre for Islamic Civilisation and Interfaith, Bayero University, Kano.
Bamalli emphasised that the current legal system’s limitations hinder women’s rights, and applying codified Law could strengthen women’s and girls’ right in the region.
He suggested that once passed, the draft bill could become applicable nationwide, promoting uniformity and consistency in protecting women’s rights.
“The bill was not passed into law when it was previously presented to the Kano State House of Assembly due to political reasons,” he said.
The emir, urged the lawmakers to ensure the speedy facilitation of the bill’s passage into law, particularly in states like Kano and Kaduna.
Earlier, Hussaini, said that the advocacy visit by the DRPC was to seek royal blessing and guidance on addressing gender-based violence.
He explained that the centre had sponsored clerics, imams and academicians to Al-Azhar University in Cairo to gain a deeper understanding of the Islamic perspectives on stemming gender violence.
According to him, gender violence is a global phenomenon deeply rooted in tradition, not religion.
The director debunked the misconception that Islam permits husbands to beat their wives, emphasising that there are prophetic traditions that condemn such acts.
Hussaini, highlighted the DRPC’s efforts to engage with executives in project states, with a focus on revisiting the draft bill to facilitate its passage into law.(NAN)
