Activists protest Muslim cleric's sexist remark
Submitted by admin3 on 20 March 2010 - 10:23pm
By IANS,
New Delhi: Women activists Saturday staged a demonstration against a cleric who spoke against Muslim women's participation in politics.
Around 30 activists, mostly from the Muslim community, as well as filmmaker Gauhar Raza and lyricist Javed Akhtar gathered at the Jantar Mantar observatory to protest comments made by Lucknow-based Muslim cleric Kalbe Jawad regarding women's reservation bill.
"This bill is a staircase towards improvement of the women's position (in society). Where were these Muslim clerics when over 400 Muslim women were raped in Gujarat's communal riots. These clerics only comment but don't do anything to help Muslim women when they are in problem," said Shabnam Hashmi from ANHAD, an NGO working on human rights issues.
Speaking at a religious gathering in Allahbad March 12, Jawad said that Muslim women have no role in politics and that "they should produce good leaders and not become leaders themselves."
Hashmi accused the Ulemas (Muslim religious heads), Jawad in particular, of having a narrow outlook.
"Do not preach what a muslim woman should or should not do. She is herself answerable to Allah," Hashmi asserted.
Filmmaker Gauhar Raza said: "We should not go back to an unbalanced society. Opponents of the bill can only delay the passing of the bill but not avoid it."
"They never talk about women's problems but have objections only when it comes to progress," said Akhtar.
Javed Anand of the Mumbai-based organisation 'Muslims for Secular Democracy' said the ulemas were being "hypocrites".
"These leaders talk only for themselves and not for the entire muslim community. Such attitudes put Muslim women in danger of being left out of progress and development," he said.
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All religions are created by male chauvinists
It is not Islam alone but all religions which are the creations of the times before the aspect of questioning and scientific temper took deeper roots.Feudal societies headed by only the males of the time created all patriarchical laws.These need changes with the ever changing conditions, which were not in the knowledge of the people of those times,blind faith of the faithful notwithstanding.The medieval mindsets of these clerics which are frozen in the ancient times should be overlooked for giving women, who are fifty percent of humanity their equitable status.
Naturally all male chauvinists are regressive with their given knowledge pertaining to the stamp of the religion acquired by the accident of their birth and would raise hue and cry against the apportioning of equal status to women.As apparent during the ongoing historical changes in the evolution of civilised society, their's are only stalling methods which are bound to yield to the ongoing civilisational progress.
Kasim Sait
Maulana Kable Javad is a
Maulana Kable Javad is a learned man, with Islamic sprit, He is more sensible and he is speaking on his subject where as people like Javed Akhter and Gauher Raza are only actors and fun lovers They want to be happy and make others happy.
Reply to Mr.Pasha
Mr.Pasha asks "Do they imagine that ISLAM is an "extreme" religion?" Islam is neither moderate nor extreme. Wahabi/Salafi/Deobandis are extremists. Bareilvis, Sufis, Shias and reformist/progressive Muslims are moderates.
'MODERATE MUSLIMS"
Who the hell are these peoople who call thmselves "MODERATE MUSLIMS"? Do they imagine that ISLAM is an "extreme" religion which has to be moderated and cut to size? Islam was, is and will ever be ISLAM - the "deen" chosen by Allah for the guidance and well-being of humanity. It neither required nor does it require nor will does not require any "moderation". LET US, MUSLIMS, BE MUSLIMS and if we are MUSLIMS in the true sense- that's enough.
S.M.PASHA
CONVENER
SHARIATH PROTECTION COUNCIL
CHENNAI
Leadership not representative
Muslim Leaders Do Not Represent Muslim People. How is the caption. Elaborate on the theme., and write a superb essay.
It is good to see moderate
It is good to see moderate Muslims speaking up against clerics whose sole purpose seems to be to retard the progress of the Muslim community.
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