Poverty root cause of Sameera’a death, says social activists

By Najiya O., TwoCircles.net,

The tragic death of Sameera Begum in Hyderabad and circumstances that led to her death has triggered a new debate in the circles of the community which revolves around the general condition of the Muslims. The deterioration of social values in Muslims is a serious case to be dealt with. The religion gives prime importance for respecting women and human rights but its followers carry on with just the opposite. The TwoCircles.Net spoke to some eminent social activists in the community on the matter.

"Imparting rational and moral education alone can make things better," says Aariz Mohammed, Director, Centre for Minorities’ Empowerment, Hyderabad. He talks about for dimensions to be taken care of in the Sameera case.

1. Utter poverty

2. Government failure in implementing laws

3. Media

4. Muslim religious leadership

Muslims in Hyderabad live in utter poverty, which acts as the root cause for all problems. Poverty leads people to anti-social elements and activities. Being so poor, they cannot produce any documents as security to get bank loans, so banks do not give loans to them. In such conditions they approach illegal money-lenders who charge very high interest rates and thus fall prey to their exploitation. To add to this, “The government is not at all interested in implementing laws,” says Aariz Mohammmed. He accuses the government of failing to bring social justice.

He also talks about the role of the media in projecting Muslim issues only when something negative happens. “Cases like that of Sameera Begum have happened earlier too. But this is being given wide coverage and popularity.” According to him, the issue is treated as a problem of Muslims, and totally forgetting the serious issue of poverty involved. The media comes up with Muslim stories only when Sameeras happen, he added.

He points his fingers towards the Muslim religious leadership, which does not give women their proper place in the community. Dowry and divorce are on a high note, illegal money is spreading its clutches deep into the community. The leadership doesn’t seem to worry at all for the socio-economic condition of the Muslim ummath, he added.

Mohammed Raheemudheen of the Human Rights Law Network emphasises on the need to educate people, which is very essential to create awareness in several matters. Respect goes only to the rich and educated, he said. He detects problems at the grass root level. The government encourages private financiers on the one hand, and police fail to register cases (even if complained) on the other hand. The media has a lot to play in all matters, but its projection of crime, in a way, encourages and increases criminal acts.

Mr. Raheemudheen added that a complete picture of the Sameera Begum case can be known only after the investigation report comes out. NGOs like the Confederation of Voluntary Associations, Aman Vedika, Human Rights Law Network etc have decided to probe into the matter. However, since the girl is dead, it would be hard to find out the real truth, he added.

The Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee, another organization active in Hyderabad appealed to the students of Madrasas and the youth to come forward to eradicate social evils from the Muslim society. It accuses the State Government of ignoring the development of the Muslim-dominated old city. Muslim organisations are also accused for not guiding the community in the right way. The organisation has already started its fact-finding mission to find out the factors behind the murder, and will come out with the results soon, said Latheef Mohammed Khan, General Secretary of the organisation said in a statement.