women entry in mosque | SabrangIndia News Related to Human Rights Fri, 25 Nov 2022 09:57:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://sabrangindia.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Favicon_0.png women entry in mosque | SabrangIndia 32 32 Imam Bukhari is a sexist: IMSD https://sabrangindia.in/imam-bukhari-sexist-imsd/ Fri, 25 Nov 2022 09:57:12 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2022/11/25/imam-bukhari-sexist-imsd/ Press release Imam Bukhari is a sexist OK for boys to loiter, not OK for girls? Women have equal right to sacred spaces Open all mosques to Muslim women Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) condemns the blatant sexism of Imam Bukhari of Delhi’s Shahi Jama Masjid, even as it welcomes his decision since to […]

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Imam

Press release

  • Imam Bukhari is a sexist
  • OK for boys to loiter, not OK for girls?
  • Women have equal right to sacred spaces
  • Open all mosques to Muslim women

Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) condemns the blatant sexism of Imam Bukhari of Delhi’s Shahi Jama Masjid, even as it welcomes his decision since to remove the boards prohibiting Muslim girls from entering the precincts of the mosque.

The earlier decision to put up the notice board was sought to be explained on the ground that Muslim girls ‘loiter’ around the mosque’s sprawling compound. Presumably it’s OK for boys to loiter, not OK for girls. Such an attitude reeks of a patriarchal mindset.

The imam has sought to clarify that the do-not-enter directive did not apply to women who were welcome as before to pray at the mosque. We appreciate the clarification since IMSD has consistently supported the right of women from all religions to equal access to all sacred spaces on par with men.

Muslim women have prayed inside the mosques in Mecca and Medina from the time of Prophet Mohammed. They continue to do so even today in Saudi Arabia and much of the Arab world, the land of Islam’s birth.

Given this, it is the height of irony that in much of the Indian sub-continent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh) Muslim men have kept the doors of mosques shut for Muslim women. IMSD welcomes the fact that in recent years some Muslim religious bodies have started creating space for women inside mosques. It demands that ALL mosques open their doors similarly.

Statement issued by:
Javed Anand, Convener, IMSD               
Feroze Mithiborwala Coconvener, IMSD

Imam

Imam

 

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Calling it “improper,” Delhi’s Jama Masjid bans entry of single, unaccompanied women https://sabrangindia.in/calling-it-improper-delhis-jama-masjid-bans-entry-single-unaccompanied-women/ Thu, 24 Nov 2022 11:34:45 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2022/11/24/calling-it-improper-delhis-jama-masjid-bans-entry-single-unaccompanied-women/ Putting into practice this objectionable gender driven exclusion, this iconic masjid and monument will impose in India’s capital an unconstitutional practice

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Jama Masjid

The Jama Masjid administration in Delhi has issued an order, imposing a ban on the entry of girls/women coming alone or in a group. PRO Sabiullah Khan says, “There is no restriction on girls/women coming with families, no restriction on married couples either.” 

He added, “Women’s entry not banned. When women comealone-improper acts done, videos shot. Ban is to stop this. No restrictions on families/married couples. Making this place a meeting point is wrong for religious places. 

The Jama Masjid PRO also said that the restriction does not apply to women coming with their families or husband. The Jama Masjid administration in Delhi has rhrough this unconstitutional act, banned the entry of women coming alone to the mosque. The diktat has triggered an outrage.

The PRO further said that the restriction has been imposed in order to check “improper acts” in the mosque premises.

“Women’s entry is not banned. Improper acts are done when women come alone, they shoot TikTok videos and dance. The ban is to stop this. There is no restriction on families/married couples. Making it a meeting point for boys and girls inapt for religious places,” Sabiullah Khan, Jama Masjid PRO told ANI.
 

 

Meanwhile, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal expressed strong discontent to the ban, and has issued a notice to the Imam of the Jama Masjid over the issue.
 

 

Details:

“Women’s entry (is) not banned. When women come alone… improper acts are done, videos are shot… and the ban is to stop this. No restrictions on families/married couples,” Jama Masjidpress officer Sabiullah Khan said, according to news agency ANI.

Reports indicate there are already signs outside the masjidinforming visitors that unaccompanied women are not allowed.

Each of the three entrances reportedly have such a signboard; each says, “Girls/women are not allowed to enter Jama Masjidalone.”

“There is no restriction on the entry of women. The restriction is for women who come here alone, give time to men, do wrong things, and make videos. Right now, there are several women here. If you come with family, there is no ban, if you are a married couple, there is no ban. But making this a meeting point, treating it like a park, dancing, and making TikTok videos are not acceptable in any place of worship, be it a temple, a masjid, or a gurdwara. Our aim behind the ban is that the masjid is used only as a place of worship,” Khan said.

A sign board that says a single woman or a group of single women cannot enter the premises has also been put up. This is in addition to a signboard that says mucus video shoots are strictly prohibited.

In 2019, the Jama Masjid administration had banned shooting videos with music inside the mosque. The administration had also constituted a team of 10 people to catch youngsters making videos and stop them.

At the time the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Maulana SyedAhmed Bukhari, had told The Indian Express, “During prayer time, that is five times a day, namazis and non-namazis can access the two small domes only through the main dome route. We want to restrict the area occupied by people so that we can keep a watch on youngsters making such videos as music is not allowed inside a masjid…”.

“I know about the TikTok craze amongst youngsters but never before had such videos shot at Jama Masjid come to my notice. In the last one month, at least five such videos have come to my notice. Whether it’s a temple or a mosque or a gurdwara, one cannot behave in this manner. This is a place of worship, not meant for such activities,” he had said.

Related:

The Fight For Haji Ali Dargah – Should Women Be Allowed?

SC order: Haji Ali Dargah Trust Must implement Bombay HC Verdict Granting Women Equal Access to the Sanctum Sanctorum

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AIMPLB objects to SC interference in religious matters https://sabrangindia.in/aimplb-objects-sc-interference-religious-matters/ Fri, 31 Jan 2020 05:46:15 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2020/01/31/aimplb-objects-sc-interference-religious-matters/ Entry of women into mosques is now being discussed in court among other rights of women in Islam

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AIMPLB

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has submitted before the Supreme Court that women are free to enter mosques, but feels that the Supreme Court should not rule on such matters. The SC is hearing petitions related to entry of women into Sabrimala, mosques and Parsee agiyaris (for women who marry outside the community).

In a counter-affidavit filed before the apex court, the AIMPLB says, “It is submitted that, essentially the questions as raised in the petition are relating to the doctrine of Islamic religious principles. The questions are directly in relation to tenets of Islam as professed and practiced by followers of Islam in different Islamic religious denominations in India. The questions in the present petition are in relation to purely religious principles/ beliefs 2 and it shall not be appropriate for this Hon’ble Court to enter into the religious practices based upon beliefs of the religion by invoking Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 and 29 of Constitution of India. It is further clarified that the issues raised in this petition are not the issues pertaining to statute(s).”

It adds, “Hence, the Respondent is of its firm view that the averments/ pleadings in relation to Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 and 29 of the Constitution of India cannot be considered and looked into for the prayers as claimed in the present petition.”

On the subject of entry of women into mosques, something that was being compared to the Sabrimala temple entry case, the AIMPLB has set the record straight saying, “Considering the said religious texts, doctrine and religious belief of the followers of Islam, it is submitted that entry of women in the Mosque for offering prayer/Namaz, inside the Mosque, is permitted. Thus, a Muslim woman is free to enter Masjid for prayers. It is her option to exercise her right to avail such facilities as available for prayers in Masjid. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board does want to comment on any contrary religious opinion to this effect. Islam has not made it obligatory on Muslim women to join congregational prayer nor is it obligatory for woman to offer Friday Namaz in congregation though it is so on Muslim men. The Muslim woman is differently placed because as per doctrines of Islam she is entitled to the same religious reward (Sawab) for praying as per her option either in Masjid or at home.”

The entire counter-affidavit may be read here: 

 

 

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“Ready to Hear you Because of Sabarimala Judgement”- SC on a Plea Seeking Permission for Women’s Entry in Mosques https://sabrangindia.in/ready-hear-you-because-sabarimala-judgement-sc-plea-seeking-permission-womens-entry-mosques/ Tue, 16 Apr 2019 12:28:18 +0000 http://localhost/sabrangv4/2019/04/16/ready-hear-you-because-sabarimala-judgement-sc-plea-seeking-permission-womens-entry-mosques/ Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) issued a notice and sought response from the Centre, National Commission for Women, Central Waqf Council and All India Muslim Personal Law Board on a writ petition filed by a Pune-based Muslim couple, under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeking permission for Muslim women to enter the main prayer hall […]

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Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) issued a notice and sought response from the Centre, National Commission for Women, Central Waqf Council and All India Muslim Personal Law Board on a writ petition filed by a Pune-based Muslim couple, under Article 32 of the Constitution, seeking permission for Muslim women to enter the main prayer hall in the mosques stating that such a prohibition is unconstitutional and violates Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25.

Supreme Court

The petitioners- Yasmeen Zuber Ahmad Peerzade and her husband Zuber Ahmad Nazir Ahmad Peerzade – in their petition said,  “there is nothing in the Quran and the Hadith that requires gender segregation.” It further stated, “the act of prohibition of females from entering a Mosque is void and unconstitutional as such practices are not only repugnant to the basic dignity of a woman as an individual but also violative of the fundamental rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution.”

The petitioners have claimed that they had written letters to the authorities of the Mohammadiya Jama Masjid, Bopodi, Pune seeking permission for women to enter, but the authorities refrained from giving permission citing no precedent. Aggrieved by this, they decided to approach the highest judicial authority. They mentioned in the SC that the State has failed to ensure the basic dignity and equality of women in general and Muslim women in particular especially in matters pertaining to women’s entry in to the mosque, wearing a burqa, etc.

They further said that currently women in the Sunni faction are barred from entering the mosque while the Jamaat-e-Islami and Mujahid factions do not have such barriers. However, there are separate entries and enclosures for worship for both men and women. This violates the fundamental right to equality. To this, a bench of Justices S A Bobde and S Abdul Nazeer enquired whether Article 14 can be applied against the individuals and can a mosque, temple or a church be treated as a state since Article 14 refers to the state action. The petitioner’s lawyer, Ashutosh Dubey, said that the mosques were receiving grants from the State and can thus be treated as a State actor. However, the bench wasn’t satisfied with this reply.

It further asked the advocate about other places where women are allowed entry in the mosques. To this, Dubey said, “..it is submitted that there is no such gender discrimination to offer worship in Mecca, the holy city. The faithful, both men and women, together circle the Kaaba.” It further added that women are allowed in mosques in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, US, UK and Singapore. The judges then enquired about similar cases in the Bombay and Kerala High Court to which the advocate replied that the women entry was permitted in to the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai while the Kerala High court had dismissed the petition on the grounds that the petitioners were Hindus and they will take up the case when the affected people (Muslims) approach them.

The petitioner’s counsel then cited the SC judgement in the Sabarimala case where four of the five judges had ruled that “religion cannot be used as cover to deny rights of worship to women” thereby allowing women of all ages to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the Sabarimala temple. He then prayed for relief on behalf of the petitioners.

Justice Bobde issued the notice saying, “We are only hearing you, and may be will hear you in the future, because of Sabarimala Judgment. But you are not giving any satisfactory answer. We’ll see..”

There are diverging opinions among experts in Islamic theology concerning gender segregation. Ahmad Kutty, an Islamic theologian in Canada has said that gender segregation isn’t required in Islam and there was no discrimination among the two sexes during the time of Prophet Muhammad. Contrarily, Abdul-Rahman al-Barrak, another Islamic theologian in Saudi Arabia has issued a death warrant through a fatwa against those who allow the mixing of the sexes.

It is to be seen whether the dissenting opinion of Justice Indu Malhotra in the Sabarimala case where she said, “..notions of rationality cannot be invoked in matters of religion by courts,” will influence the decision of the present case. Interestingly, the petition even mentioned the Uniform Civil Code, which is also a part of the BJP manifesto for the 2019 general elections. It said, “Despite the observations of this Hon’ble Court for the past few decades, Uniform Civil Code (UCC) remains an elusive Constitutional goal that the Courts have fairly refrained from enforcing through directions and the Legislature has dispassionately ignored except by way of paying some lip service.”

Time and again, citizens have knocked at the door of the judiciary seeking their intervention in unjust and unequal religious rules. Constitutional principles and the fundamental rights guaranteed by it have formed the basis for various pleas regarding religious matters, including those made by the Muslim community. Apart from the Haji Ali Dargah judgement, the Shayara Bano verdict (where Justice Abdul Nazeer was on this bench) is a case in point for Muslim women’s quest for equality.

With demands for gender-just laws increasing and the unsettling debate over the UCC, the decision of the Supreme Court will be awaited as it will shape the further course of action in the fight towards a just and equal society.
 

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