A renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Dahiru Usman Bauchi, has condemned the controversial Gender and Equal Opportunity Bill, warning the Senate to reject it.
The bill, which seeks to ensure equal inheritances for male and female children, has passed the second reading at the Senate.
Speaking to newsmen in his Bauchi
residence on Wednesday, October 5, he said the bill is against the
provision of Islam about inheritance between male and female - the
religion gave a higher percentage to a male heir.
Bauchi
warned the Senate to be sensitive in dealing with issues that touch on
the religious line as this may cause unnecessary tension among believers
of the religion.
He particularly warned every
Muslim Senator in the Chamber, who he said should know better, to
strongly oppose the bill and ensure it is not passed into law.
He
expressed pity for any Muslim senator who backs the bill, saying it is
an attempt to change a divine law contained in the Qur'an. He said such
person is doing so at his own peril.
Bauchi
stressed that the attempt to give the same share of inheritance to male
and female heirs in Nigeria is an infringement on the Islamic rights of
Nigerian Muslims as enshrined in the Qur'an.
The Islamic scholar said: "Since
there is a law which guarantees the freedom of religion, our Islamic
laws must not be tampered with. Giving a double female share to a male
heir in an inheritance was prescribed by Allah in the Qur'an.
"Anybody
who thought that it is an attempt to short-changed women is only
ignorant. Islam is the only religion that awards inheritance to women
and guarantees their rights. In other religions and cultures, what is
left by a deceased belongs to the eldest male child."
He
called on Muslims to recall, reject and vote out their elected
representatives who attempt to tamper with any Islamic law in whatever
guise.
The bill which is being sponsored by Senator Biodun Olujimi also seeks end the harassment of widows and ensure equal employment opportunities for women.
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