The Hindu : National : Helpline for Shia women

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Monday, Mar 14, 2011
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Helpline for Shia women

Lucknow: In a bid to check female foeticide, the All-India Shia Personal Law Board has decided to set up a helpline for the community women to lodge complaints against the practice.

“During a two-day convention of the AISPLB, a resolution was passed to start a helpline to check female foeticide within the community,” Chairman Mirza Mohammad Athar told reporters here.

Foeticide is strictly prohibited under the Islamic law. “As per the resolution, if any woman is pressured to practise foeticide by her in-laws or someone else, she can call the helpline,” he said.

Efforts would be made to sensitise the family first to the evil and if it still insisted on going ahead with foeticide, it would be socially boycotted.

“Another resolution was passed to check extravagant expenditure during marriage. Community people have been requested to organise mass marriages so that girls from poor families can get married at minimal cost,” Mirza Athar said.

It was also resolved to improve the political and social conditions of the Shias by creating awareness of their rights. — PTI

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