Muslim women seek better training for male child

Al-Mu’minaat Organisation has urged women to take the upbringing of their male children seriously, noting that untrained male children are the one on rampage with violence against females.

The National Amirah of Al-Mu’minaat, Hajia Nimatullah Abdulquadir, who made this call recently, said the group is seriously worried about the increasing incidence of rape cases in the country, describing it as a rape of the nation itself.

She said: “ It has become a daily headline in the national news. Even religious houses are not spared. Parents with female children fear for the safety of their daughters. We are all guilty of this insanity going on. We all need to take a retrospect into how we might have contributed consciously or unconsciously to the evil deeds that are currently sweeping through our nation”.

Abdul Qadir noted that the shaming and blaming of rape victims or survivors is dangerous.

She urged those who overtly or covertly seek to accuse victims of being responsible for their ordeal to desist immediately.

“No woman deserves to be raped, though Islam encourages decent dressing. Accusing victims of being responsible for rape because of their dressing or being in particular places at the time of the crime is a great injustice,” she said.

She suggested that laws on rape should be reviewed and offenders should be adequately prosecuted.

“The legislatures at all levels must sit to review the laws on rape and provide stiffer punishment that can serve as deterrence to others. The law enforcement agents and lawyers must make sure that the law takes its cause on offending crimes.

“The Nigerian police must put their expertise into use to track down offenders. Looking for volunteer information is not enough; forensic audit and other modern means should be used to track perpetrators,” Abduquadir said.

She called on civil and religious organisations to educate the populace on the ugly trend.

“Al-Mu’minaat also calls on The National Orientation Agency to rise up to educate the populace about this ugly trend and the need to protect the girl child” she said.

She however, consoled Nigerians who have lost their relatives to the global coronavirus pandemic. “We plead with Nigerians not to pressurise the government into opening of educational institutions, especially pre-tertiary institutions as not all schools in the nation have the capacity to prevent the spread of the virus, “ she said.