The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Domestic violence: Muslim community anguished

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Wednesday, Jul 09, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Domestic violence: Muslim community anguished

Special Correspondent

The disturbing trend has brought together Muslims from different walks of life to address the issue

Hyderabad: It has been the Achilles heel. But the recent torching of a housewife at Purani Haveli has catapulted it into centre stage. The gory incident has stirred the conscience of the Muslim community like nothing before. The trend of growing domestic violence in the community has brought together Muslims from different walks of life to address the issue.

They have no organisation as such. Yet the recent meeting convened by a couple of professors, advocates and ulemas evoked good response. A large number of burqa-clad women poured into the Urdu Ghar at Moghalpura, indicating the anguish and distress among the fair sex.

While harassment in the name of dowry has always been there, the recent trend of suspecting women’s fidelity and subjecting them to torture is quite serious, the meeting felt. “A woman’s reputation is tarnished and then abuses are heaped on her. No attempt is made to verify the truth,” said Prof. Rehana Sultana of MANUU.

Ulemas ‘silent’

She regretted that no women’s organisation had protested against Purani Haveli incident. There was also a ‘criminal’ silence on the part of the ulemas. During the last nine days 25 incidents of crime against women had taken place in the city. And in the majority of the cases Muslim women are the target.

Prof. Sultana accused the ulemas of abdicating their duties. They were not awakening people’s consciousness on such sensitive issues.

Dr. Syed Tanveeruddin Qudanumayi, who heads the Persian Department in OU, said incidents like those of Purani Haveli should not be dismissed as stray cases.

Equal rights

Mufti Mohd Mastan Ali, administrator, Jamiatul Mominaat, sought to dispel the belief that women could be treated like slaves after marriage.

Islam gave equal rights to men and women. In fact no woman could be forced to serve her in-laws under Islam.

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