Muslim scholars in northern Nigeria are launching a campaign to improve women's rights through Islamic Sharia law, which they say provides greater protection for women than traditional practices in the region. Nigerian Muslim jurists, both male and female, say Sharia is an opportunity to help downtrodden women.
"Islamic law protects women's rights very seriously, certainly more than our traditional system," said Ibrahim Naiya Sada, director of the Centre for Islamic Legal Studies at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, one of Nigeria's top universities.
Nigeria has the largest Muslim community in sub-Saharan Africa. About half of Nigeria's population of 140 million are Muslims while the other half are Christians or animists.
Shortly after Nigeria returned to democracy six years ago, 12 predominantly Muslim northern states reintroduced Sharia - abolished under British colonial rule - alienating many Christians and sparking religious violence.
But Sada said Sharia comprised a strong code of social justice that would improve women's lot if properly applied.
For example, many northern Nigerian parents refuse to send their daughters to school. "In Islam, parents are responsible for providing education and training to their children. Denying this is against Sharia, which expects men and women to be equally educated," says a booklet produced by a team of jurists, scholars and sociologists headed by Sada to form the basis of a major awareness campaign.
Sada said some exploitation of women was rooted in poverty, but there also Sharia could make a positive contribution because it called for Muslims to give alms and support the needy.
His team has studied how women are treated in northern Nigeria and consulted with women's rights campaigners, Sharia courts, clerics, political and traditional leaders, and other men and women all over the north.
The booklet did not raise the issue of female circumcision, widely practised in many African countries including Nigeria. Islam is often cited as justification for the practice although Sharia condemns it according to most scholars.
On the question of Sharia courts sentencing women to death by stoning for adultery, Sada said there were a lot of misconceptions both within and outside of Nigeria.