India: Muslims and Women’s Reservation Bill

While North India’s regional politicians like Samajwadi party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad Yadav are vigorously opposing the Women’s Reservation Bill claiming that the minorities will not have any say in the legislatures, the Muslim community itself seems divided on the issue.

While one section of the minority community is against the Bill, there is a counter view that it was good for Muslim women.

For instance, Shia cleric Kalbe Jawwad advised women to produce leaders instead of aspiring to be one themselves. On the other hand, All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) publicly denounced the "parochial anti-feminist view point'' and openly came out in support of Women's reservation bill.

Condemning the "worrisome narrow interpretation of Islam as a religion bent upon curtailing women's liberty and dignity,'' AISPLB president Maulana Mirza Mohammad Athar said, "instructions have been forwarded to all branch heads of the body based in Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmadabad, Bhavnagar, etc to mobilise community opinion to further the cause which could go a long way for the much-needed female empowerment.''

The octogenarian cleric, known for his forward thinking and outspokenness, said that Islam "aims at giving each section of society its `jayaz haq' (rightful due). Ordering women to confine themselves within four walls of their homes is Afghani Islam and not what is followed by secular and liberal countries like India,'' he argued.

Those who are opposing the reservation bill on the basis of Shariat are only trying to defame Islam and interpreting it at their personal will, he charged. The issue has created a lot of confusion in the community, spokesperson of the board Maulana Yasoob Abbas said.

"Denying women an opportunity to join public life when the UPA sadar, chief minister of UP and the railway ministers are all females, will be thwarting their personality. This is not something any religion in the world, least of all Islam, will endorse,'' he said.

Meanwhile, president of All India Women Personal Law Board Shaista Amber also hit out at the ulema for their anti-women stance. Ambar said she would "ideally like to have 50 percent reservation for females but in case it was not politically feasible, she would welcome the 33 percent quota with open arm''. She termed the bill "the right move for the right segment at the right time''.

This leaves out the clerics and academicians in the oldest body, All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which is slated to hold its three-day annual convention starting April 19. There is a fair sprinkling of liberals like noted cleric Maulana Kalbe Sadiq, who had floated the idea of 33 percent reservation of women in AIMPLB.

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