Nigerian Muslim Cleric Warns Muslim Lawmakers To Reject Gender Equality Bill

A Muslim cleric in Nigeria, Sheikh Isyaka Rabiu - leader of the Tijjaniya Brotherhood, has warned Muslim lawmakers that they will be condemned as unbelievers if they back the gender equality bill. According to him, the bill which proposes that men and women inherit an equal share, violates the Koran.

In an Interview with BBC, Sheikh Rabiu said "whoever approves of the bill is an unbeliever, not Muslim. I am appealing to all Muslim [senators] to never allow this bill to become law and if they do, we are going to tell all Nigerian Muslims not to accept it."

The Gender Equality Opportunity (GEO) Bill which is sponsored by a female Senator, Biodun Olujimi, suffered major setback in March this year but passed for second reading at the senate on September 29th. It seeks to address women's freedom of movement, female economic activity, girls' access to education, equal rights for women in marriage, divorce, property/land ownership and inheritance, appropriate measures against gender discrimination in political and public life and prohibitions of violence to women.