342. Under the Sharia Penal Law of Kano State, the offence of zina – i.e. unlawful sexual intercourse – can only by proven by confession or the evidence of 4 male witnesses or 8 female witnesses (the testimony of a woman being equal to half of that of a man) 1/5 #everydayfeminism https://twitter.com/a_nickabugu/status/1264295256473964545

Zina is often conflated with rape, putting women at a particular disadvantage.

In 2001, pregnant 14 year-old Bariya Magazu accused three men of raping her. Upon failure to prove that intercourse was non-consensual, Bariya was faced with a charge of unlawful sexual intercourse.

Under a similar law in Zamfara State, She was sentenced by an Islamic Court to caning of 100 lashes for premarital sex and 80 lashes for falsely accusing the men of rape. Bariya withdrew her accusation against the men, then the additional sentence of 80 lashes was cancelled.

In the morning of January 22, 2001, Bariya Magazu was given a public whipping of 100 lashes.

After Bariya was caned, she was presented with several men who offered to marry her, and pressured to choose one, which she did.

The then Deputy Governor of Zamfara, Mahmoud Shinkafi, said Magazu was bruised but “not badly hurt” by the flogging. “Immediately after the punishment she thanked Allah for having the punishment. She walked home and when she got to her village she was very happy”

- The Guardian