So I listened to the webinar organized by @marsv_ng on the topic of rape and gender based violence from a religious perspective and learned a lot. I took some notes while listening and thought I'd share them here with the intention that it might benefit someone. Thread:

Before I start I want to mention that this isn't to spark arguments or anything like that. I usually share whatever I learn here.

I didn't take notes from everyone and excluded any points that were unclear to me. I'm posting SS of the notes otherwise it would be too long.

First off it was great and necessary that they had a female Ms. Saudatu Mahdi on the panel to share her perspective. A lot of people were happy about that.

She said the fact that men are talking about this issue is progress since the narrative is usually only sung by women.

Notes from Imam Sharafudeen Abdulsalam Aliagan.

Topic: Rape, Non-violent rape and their misconceptions in Islam.

Notes from Sheikh Muhammad Bin Uthman Kano

Topic: What Islam really says about the marriagable age of women.

I'd like to apologise for my not-so-great notes. I haven't mentioned everything the speaker had addressed. But what little I have noted down I feel are still important.

Notes from Ustadh Abubakr Muhammad

Topic: Misogyny and its relation to rape

Notes from Dr. Isa Ali Pantami

Topic: The role of upbringing in shaping the society: The Islamic perspective

Again... Not so great notes but I still hope this is worth reading.

Notes from Sheikh Nuruddeen Lemu

Topic: The religious perception and penalty for rape including "marital rape"

Mufti Menk

Topic: Issues affecting the girl child - an Islamic perspective

Part 1

Mufti Menk

Topic: Issues affecting the girl child - an Islamic perspective

Part 2

HRH Muhammadu Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II

Topic: Contemporary challenges facing Sharia legislation on rape and domestic violence

HRH Muhammadu Sanusi Lamido Sanusi II spoke quite a lot, I believe the longest and my notes are very limited because the topic was very long and in-depth and a bit too much for me after listening for 4 hours.

He spoke about so much with so much wisdom.

He brought up the issue of North Nigeria lacking secondary education and how without these things being addressed first, fixing a minimum age of marriage would be difficult especially in communities that are lower in socio economic status.

Also spoke about how in Islam a marriage contract is a contract that gives consent to sex. About the Hadith of not approaching your wives as a beast would, and how if violence is used for the purpose of getting sex, he woman has every right to seek compensation.

That concludes this thread. More than 20k people participated in this webinar and it would without a doubt benefit someone out there somehow. As Mufti Menk said correctly these conversations should be held on a regular basis so that the stigma around this topic is eliminated.