THE International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called on religious leaders to end the misuse of religion to justify gender-based violence (GBV).
FIDA said distorted interpretations of sacred texts often fueled women’s subordination and abuse.
FIDA’s Country Vice President, Mrs Eliana Martins, made the call at the second annual dialogue for religious leaders on GBV prevention on Monday in Lagos.
The theme of the dialogue was: “Strengthening Religious Institutions in Preventing GBV.”
Martins said the event, which was supported by Ford Foundation, formed part of the project titled: “Engagement, Coordination and Sharing of Lessons on GBV Prevention between Religious, Traditional and Government Leaders in Nigeria.”
She said religion, when wrongly interpreted, had been used as a tool for oppression, reinforcing patriarchal dominance and normalising violence in many homes.
According to her, texts that promote men’s ‘headship’ in many cases, are used to justify violence against women.
Martins said: “Some men abuse religious doctrines to rationalise control and aggression in intimate relationships.
“The insistence on women’s subordination on the basis of religious ideology fuels violence and sustains patriarchal control over women and girls.
“This subordination, reinforces through cultural and religious socialisation, has caused many women to believe gender inequality was natural and divinely ordered, making them resistant to change.
“FIDA Nigeria recognises the central role of religious leaders as custodians of values and moral authority.”
She said the dialogue would create a platform for faith leaders to exchange ideas, address misconceptions and commit to collective action against GBV.
Martins added that the dialogue would provide a safe space for interfaith conversations among Christians, muslims and traditional leaders to promote gender justice.
She emphasised that meaningful progress could only be achieved by engaging all sectors of society, including government, civil society organisations, and faith communities.
The Head of the Islamic Studies Department at Moricas University College, Imam Abdulganiyu Oraji, noted that Islam holds women in high esteem and does not support any form of gender-based violence or injustice.
Oraji, who is also the Secretary of the Mission Board of NASFAT Worldwide, said the dialogue provided a platform to strengthen collective efforts towards ending GBV.
The cleric, while speaking on the Islamic perspective on women’s rights, said Islam accords women dignity, independence and protection as clearly stated in the Qur’an.
According to him, Qur’an has a whole chapter dedicated to the rights of women, including the rights to education, life, inheritance and personal property.
Oraji said: “Islam gives women the right to own property, to inherit from their parents and husbands and to keep their money.
“A husband cannot dictate how a woman should spend her earnings and Islam does not condone wife battery, neglect, or dehumanisation of women.
“Many harmful cultural practices are wrongly attributed to religion and superiority in Islam is not based on gender but on knowledge and piety.
“Those who misinterpret scriptures to suit personal or cultural agendas are misleading people because Islam promotes justice, respect for women and care for the girl-child.
A cleric, Rev. Marcel Onwuka of Grace and Mercy Ministry, attributed the rising cases of GBV in Nigeria to ignorance, negative mindsets, and rigid cultural beliefs.
Onwuka said many harmful practices were sustained because people failed to understand their consequences.
“When you know the consequence of what you are doing, you will not do it.
“Most gender-based violence cases are caused by ignorance and negative cultural beliefs,” he said.
According to him, some individuals hold on to cultural practices that promote inequality between men and women, insisting that such beliefs contradict God’s word.
“Culture makes some people think they are better than the other gender but in our church, we preach equality of all people before God.
“The Bible does not differentiate between male or female; both are equal before Him,” Onwuka said. (NAN)
A.I
Nov. 10, 2025
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FIDA warns against misuse of religion to justify gender violence – Realnews Magazine
