By TCN News,
Mumbai: CJP, Muslims for Secular Democracy and Communalism Combat are disappointed and ashamed at the gagging of Ms. Amina Wadud.
“We, who are fighting for justice in Gujarat amongst others, are disappointed and ashamed at the reported intolerance of Muslim groups from Chennai threatening to create a law and order problem resulting in the cancellation of the lecture on ‘Gender and Reform in Islam’ by the internationally renowned African American follower and scholar of Islam, Dr. Amina Wadud scheduled for July 29 at the University of Madras,” a joint press statement said.
They condemned the feeble capitulation of the Tamil Nadu state. The Chennai police reportedly sent a text message to the university’s vice-chancellor, R Thandavan stating: “Police cannot allow this (the lecture) considering law and order. Please take action to suspend/cancel the programme”.
The vice-chancellor timidly complied, they added. All three stakeholders of our society have made us less proud as Indians.
Ms Wadud is a practising, devout Muslim, one of the founders of Sisters in Islam, an international women’s group fighting for gender-justice. In 2005, Ms Wadud became the first woman in modern times to lead a mixed-gender Friday prayer in New York. She has done so again on several occasions outside the US on the invitation of Muslim groups. It is her battle for gender justice within Islam (as in all societies) that is being opposed, her voice being denied and her views sought to be blanked out.
After being stranded for hours at the Calicut airport waiting to catch a flight to Chennai, Ms Wadud was left with no choice but to return to her hotel from where she has sent out a message, “Clearly, India and I are not destined to be partners in the struggle for human dignity. I accept that and surrender.”