By Iduozee Paul, Benin
The Federation of Muslims Women Association of Nigeria (FOMAN) in Edo State, has, protested against the incessant rate of rape, brutality and molestation of women, just as the body also called on government at all levels to come up with stiffer penalties for perpetrators of the hedious act.
FOMAN also called on government at all levels to institute practical mechanism that will give better protection for girls and women under the law and that will ensure perpetrators are brought to book.
The protesting women who carried placards with various inscriptions such as; ‘say no to rape; join the fight against rape; Age no matter, whether three, five, 18, 50 and 80 years, it is rape among others’, noted that the protest became necessary so as to stop the rape and killing in the country.
Commenting on behalf of the National Amirah, Hajiya Halima, the state Amirah, Hajia Rabi Abiri, said rape in whatever form negates the teaching of the world’s major religions which preached chastity as an essential requirement for a morally upright family, community and nation.
She added that as Muslims mothers, they have watched with concern the increase in the incidence of rape across the country.
, “This has heightened the level of insecurity and women freedom of movement is threatened while its dignity is being shredded. Women and children are living in fear of being molested, abused or killed.”
Also talking, the Chief Imam of Benin, Abdufatai Enabulele, said that women are created to be respected and not to be violated.
Imam Enabulele, who enjoined the women in the protest said him and other men decided to join the women so as to support them, noting that raping and killing of women should be a concern to all Nigerians
He called on both the federal and the state government to have the political will to come up with stiffer penalty.