HVK Archives: Women's forum takes up cudgels against Muslim personal law
Women's forum takes up cudgels against Muslim personal law - The Times of India
P. K. Surendran
()
25 August 1997
Title: Women's forum takes up cudgels against Muslim personal law
Author: P. K. Surendran
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 25, 1997
In a dilapidated building on the crowded Big Bazaar road of this town in
Malabar, lives a frail 46-year-old Muslim woman who has taken on the
collective might of the Muslim clergy and traditionalists.
V. P. Zuhara, a reticent housewife but zealous social worker has been
instrumental in bringing together a group of Muslim women to challenge
polygamy and other problems affecting women in her community.
'Nissa', a forum they formed two months ago, has three main aims: educate
Muslim women and make them aware of their rights; identify women who have
been abandoned by their husbands and give them legal and financial succour;
and take recourse to agitation to secure the rights and privileges for the
women in the community.
Ms Zuhara would appear to be an unlikely candidate for the task she has
undertaken. She is modest, even coy, greeting visitors. She covers her
head and does not speak unless spoken to.
But once she begins to talk about the topic dear to her - the plight of
Muslim women - she becomes eloquent and emotional. "I know I'm playing
with my life but death comes only once, why bother," she told TOINS when
this correspondent interviewed her recently. Excerpts from the interview:
What was the immediate provocation to form Nissa?
Recently the National Women's Commission had organised a seminar to discuss
the problems of Muslim women. This well-meaning attempt was used by a
political party to run down the commission. Indeed, the party's leaders
even roped in some women who declared they were perfectly happy with
polygamy and similar practices.
We had gone there to air our views on Muslim personal law but were shocked
when we were abused for being "modern and anti-Muslim." It set me and other
women thinking. No woman likes to share her husband with another woman. If
one suffers in silence it is because of helplessness or lack of courage.
And here were these women announcing they were perfectly happy being abused
or booted out at will. We thought we must provide a true forum for
suffering women.
What are the most crucial problems Muslim women face today?
Two most pressing problems in Malabar are polygamy and marriage of
underaged girls. In fact girls become mothers as soon as they reach the age
of puberty and often find themselves divorced and helpless. There are many
other problems like denial of right to a share in the parent's property,
lack of job opportunities, illiteracy and absence of health care. In our
community a mother cannot marry off her son or daughter without the written
permission of the father. This is true of women in other communities as well.
So who is to blame?
Basically it is the misinterpretation of the Koran and Shariat and
political chicanery. It is true Islam permits polygamy but the Prophet
also said since no man is perfect he cannot do justice to more than one
wife. Therefore monogamy is ideal. Indeed, Pakistan, Bangladesh and other
Islamic countries have banned the practice. Yet in democratic India no one
talks of the rights of poor women. We believe most of the problems emanate
from the fact that divorce is easy and polygamy is tolerated.
In Arab countries a man earns a livelihood and builds a home before he
marries. Even then he has to give meher (bride price) to the girl's
parents. In contrast, men here nor only do the men not return the wife's
money and ornaments, they demand dowry before they marry. Earlier demanding
dowry was not prevalent in the Muslim community but now it is the norm.
What are the solutions suggested by Nissa?
We are demanding amendments to Muslim Personal Law to ensure divorce is
effected through a court of law; give the bride a say in her marriage;
enforce the law prohibiting marriage of underaged girls; and give daughters
an equal share in parental property.
Does It mean you an in effect demanding a common civil code?
No, we are not for that. But recasting the Muslim Personal Law would
improve our lot. We seek redress, not rejection.
What has been experience of 'Nissa' in the past two months?
We have received hundreds of letters from Kerala and outside pledging
support and congratulating us for the work. Many mahila associations have
lent us moral support. We have also received threats and abuses.
What about support from political parties?
None of the major political parties has openly made its stand clear. The
Congress has kept silent. The CPM which stands for equality for all has
been sympathising with us privately but has not taken a public stand. The
problem, I believe, is votes. But we too have votes. Someone has to take
the initiative. If not me, someone else will.
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