Azad Maidan

triple talaq

Lok Sabha

Dr Asma Zehra

All India Muslim Personal Law Board

Uniform Civil Code

Islam Gymkhana

Bhendi Bazar festival

Thousands of women expected to converge attoday as men cite ‘danger to religion’.Thousands of Muslim women are expected to converge at Azad Maidan on Saturday, to oppose the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill. The Bill, which makes instanta non-bailable, cognisable offence, attracting a punishment of three years’ jail, has been passed by the, but awaits Rajya Sabha’s assent.However, these women have been told that the Bill criminalises talaq per se.Speaking at an 800-strong meeting of women at Oshiwara,, head of the women’s wing of the, made this statement without specifying that the Bill applies only to instant triple talaq. The same wrong claim was repeated by another speaker at a Madanpura rally.The women have also been told that the Bill is the “first step’’ towards the BJP’s dream of a. Once that was enacted, said Board member Monisa Bushra Abidi, Muslims would no longer be allowed to conduct nikaahs in masjids.Attending the rally was akin to waging ‘jihad’ against attempts to destroy their religion, the women were told.Few in the audience knew anything about the Board or the Bill. A handful said the rally was aimed at opposing interference in their religion. Triple talaq was not allowed in Islam, they emphasised. But when told that the Bill too does not allow it, they faltered and directed this reporter to the organisers.Saturday’s rally is being seen as the “grand finale’’ to the series of women’s rallies organised by the Board across the country, in a bid to show that the triple talaq Bill is being opposed not only by men, but by women too.The who’s who of Mumbai’s Muslims gathered aton Tuesday to work out the logistics of the rally. Among those present at the meet called by Congress MLA Yusuf Abrahani, were Dr Zahir Kazi, president, Anjuman I Islam group of educational institutions, ex-Congress minister Arif Naseem Khan, AIMIM MLA Waris Pathan, and Farid Shaikh of the Mumbai Aman Committee. Shakir Patni, Mumbai AIMIM president, announced a personal donation of Rs 5 lakh. The all-male gathering announced that schools and masjids would be used to mobilise women.Similarly, activists such as Arif Ghori of Lokanchi Shakti and Zubair Azmi, who runs the, helped organise meetings of women across the city, making sure only women addressed them. Barring a few, the speakers were wives of activists. Dr Asma Zehra from Hyderabad, and Sumaiyya Nomani, daughter of Board spokesman Maulana Sajjad Nomani, were the star speakers.Said Zubair Azmi, “This rally will be historic. I’ve seen meetings of Muslims stretching from Madanpura to Azad Maidan on two occasions, but those were all men.’’The women were told that this was their chance to create history. “The beef ban ruined so many homes; so did TADA earlier. But did your husbands tell you to leave your home and protest?’’ asked activist Gazala Azad.Speakers emphasised that “If women oppose this Bill, the government will have to listen. The country’s eyes are on you.”The Oshiwara meet ended with women sobbing as a long dua (by a man) bemoaned the fact that women’s tears had dried up and their hearts had hardened like those of men.By the end of these preparatory meetings, the women were raring to go. Clear instructions were given: “Your menfolk will guide you to buses which will leave from the nearest masjid. As exams are on, leave children at home. Let the men look after them. Carry water and Electral (oral rehydration salt formula), but no plastic bags. Do not litter. Above all, wear your burqa. If the media asks why you are here, tell them this Bill is against our religion and our rights”.