Representatives of Muslim women’s organisations on Saturday demanded that President of India Ram Nath Kovind retract parts of his speech which they said pertain to Muslim women and their freedom.
The women activists, under the umbrella of Muslim Mahila Research Kendra, took objection to and underscored parts of Mr. Kovind’s speech which he delivered at the recent joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament in which he stated, “For decades, the dignity of Muslim women has remained captive to political cost-benefit. Now the nation has an opportunity to emancipate them from this situation.”
The activists, including Asma Zehra, said the Sharia protects women’s rights. “With due respect, we demand that the President take back what he said,” she said even as she added that the government should take back The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill. “This Bill, if passed, will throw Muslim men in jail,” she said.
Protest meeting
She said as many as 17 organisations were part of the protest meeting.
All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen corporator Ayesha Rubina, who is also an educationalist, too demanded that the Bill be taken back. Echoing the opinions of other women at the gathering, she too said the Bill would be harmful for the Muslim community.
