By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Naish Hasan is the name of a woman who made a history and earned lot of criticism when her nikah was officiated by a Muslim lady. She refutes that was a popularity stunt. Rather, it was to show that women are eligible to conduct nikah. Talking to Mumtaz Alam Falahi of TwoCircles.net, Hasan, who is founder member of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, calls for reform in Muslim law for women and also an alternative leadership for them.
Why did you form the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan?
We were thinking for long that in India there should be a movement for Muslim women, not only for Muslim women, for all Muslims. We think there is no leadership within the Muslim community. Only there is religious leadership and religious leadership cannot do everything. We are fighting for security, education and employment and law. We are working for the alternative leadership.
Why did you call this convention?
Every year we hold our annual convention to raise and think over major issues confronting the Muslim women.
What are the major problems that Muslim women in India are facing?
The Sachar Committee report has exposed the real conditions of the Muslim community and Muslim women. They are living in very poor condition even sixty years after Independence. I think we should come together and fight for our rights.
Do you want some reform in Muslim law concerning Muslim women?
We think we need reform. Because there should be a law that is free from gender bias. Major areas where we think Muslim law should be reformed are divorce, mehar and other issues related to marriage.
Do you think Muslim religious leaders in India have not allowed Muslim women to go up and progress?
Who cares (if they have not allowed)? We need alternative leadership and we are working for that leadership. We are not running behind the mullahs. I understand and know that within the Muslim community there is only religious leadership and religious leadership is not enough.
A few months back you made a history in India when your nikah was officiated by a Muslim woman? What pushed you to take such decision?
No particular reason. I was working among Muslim women for long. So I thought why a Muslim woman cannot conduct nikah when the Shariat has no such restriction. And Syeda Apa (Dr Syeda Hamid, Member of Planning Commission of India) is a well known activist. She knows Islam very well. She knows Muslim women’s rights very well. So why not she?
But many people said it was a popularity stunt.
Oh, who cares? Some mullahs are saying. I know who is saying this. I am not caring for all the mullahs. I know what I am doing. I am not anti-religion. I am not anti-Islam or Shariat.
What’s your message to Muslim women in India?
Muslim women should come together and think about the alternative leadership. They should raise their voices and the day will come when we will get our rights