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A new fatwa bars Muslim women from public life

George Iype in Kozhikode

An apex Muslim religious body in Kerala has issued a fatwa that bans the community's women from entering political life and sharing a public platform with men. Muslim intellectuals and reformists say petty politics, rather than religious fervour, is behind the fatwa.

The Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulema, consisting of religious scholars of orthodox Sunnis, recently came out with a resolution that said the entry of Muslim women into political life is 'unacceptable and irreligious'. It insisted that Muslim women should not be allowed to share a public platform with men.

While reformists in the community have rejected the resolution, Muslim women who have been entering public life by participating in panchayat-level activities say fundamentalists are again trying to unleash intolerance.

"A section of Muslim religious leaders who are against modernisation are trying to instigate the community. We will not obey these kinds of orthodox resolutions," Qamarunnisa Anwar, state president of the women's wing of the Indian Union Muslim League told rediff.com. She said the fatwa 'shows SKJU's intolerance towards our increasing acceptability as able leaders by the community'. It showed SKJU's 'arrogance and jealousy' towards women leaders who form bulk of the panchayat-level representatives in the districts of Malappuram and Kozhikode.

According to IUML officials, at least 300 Muslim women are now actively engaged in public life in various panchayats in these districts. The party planned to field more than 500 women in the forthcoming local body elections scheduled in September this year.

"If the IUML is forced to obey the fatwa, the Muslim community will have to forgo many panchayat seats this time," a senior IUML functionary told rediff.com. The nearly seven million Muslims in north Kerala are considered loyal IUML followers and it is here that the party will be worst hit. This is because 33 per cent of the seats are reserved for women.

Muslim reformists are worried that Muslim political leaders have not come out against the fatwa though the party is upset by the resolution. Panakkad Syed Mohammedali Shihab, the supreme Muslim League leader has refused to comment on the fatwa saying the issue should not be blown up.

"Actually, our religious leaders should be encouraging women to enter politics because that is the best route to dispel illiteracy, poverty and backwardness among Muslims," Mohammad Ali Mustafa, a reformist thinker in Kozhikode told rediff.com. He said some religious leaders, scholars and politicians in the community fear losing their status if more women entered public life.

"Muslim community will not progress if narrow-mindedness and intolerance continue to be the hallmarks of its public life," Mustafa added.

"Political and religious rivalries are the reasons for the fatwa. But I doubt it will have any impact," K M Siddique, a progressive Muslim writer said. He said the new generation of Muslims is courageous enough to defy traditional customs, the intolerance unleashed by fundamentalist organisations and orthodox religious leaders. "For them, Palathody Abdul Rasheed and Tasni Bani are the true symbols of progress and freedom," Siddique added.

Rasheed was shunned by fellow Muslims for learning Kathakali, the dance form traditionally performed by Hindus. Banu, 20, a college girl was hounded and ostracised by Muslim extremists for falling in love and marrying Abdul Nazar, a rationalist activist.

These days many social organisations are holding regular street corner meetings across Malappuram and Kozhikode to educate Muslims by explaining how young people like Rasheed and Banu are hounded by religious fundamentalists.

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