Muslim Women Protest Extra-Judicial Actions of Religious Bodies in Mumbai

July 24, 2005

Source: The Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2005/07/24/stories/2005072402441000.htm

On July 24, 2005 The Hindu reported, "An unusual morcha wound its way through Mumbai's Muslim dominated localities on Saturday afternoon. A vociferous group mostly of Muslim women, many wearing the hijab, publicly protested against the extra-judicial actions of some religious bodies. Shouting slogans 'Shah Bano, Gudiya, Imrana, the Maulanas are unjust' and 'Our government is silent because it is afraid of the Maulanas,' the women wanted an end to fatwas and edicts which affected their lives... The demonstration was organised by five organisations working with women — Awaaz-e-Niswaan, Women's Research and Action Group, Forum Against Oppression of Women, the India Centre for Human Rights and Law Network and PUKAR gender and space project... The organisations demanded that the rule of law prevail. 'Laws which are applicable to women from the other communities must also be applicable to Muslim women.' They asked for an end to the 'politics of fatwa' and to 'extra-judicial authorities.'"