Muslim clerics in Nigeria have called on members of parliament not to pass a gender equality bill.
They say the clause which gives men and women equal inheritance rights is totally against their religion.
In Islam, women receive half of men’s share of inheritance.
Muslim scholars explain that this is so because, in Islam, men are expected to take care of women. That goes as far as that even if a woman earns an income, her husband, or brother, or father is responsible for taking care of her. And since his responsibility is greater, he gets more of the inheritance than she does.
The senate rejected an earlier version of the bill in March, saying it was incompatible with Nigerian culture and religious beliefs, though some progress has now been achieved on a watered down version of the bill.