Dr Syed Mubin Zehra

As a supporter of basic human rights and gender equality, it has been my priority to highlight that women's rights are nothing but simple basic human rights. Contesting and analyzing the difficult roadmap towards minority Muslim women in India it becomes imperative to explore the state-sponsored highlights of minority Muslim women empowerment efforts, impacts, and results of it in the society.

As I am not a religious expert; I have learned through my minor engagements of history and facts that Islam rose against female infanticide and in times when girl children were killed in a covered coffin utensil for their gender. The Prophet showed the Arab world how important is a daughter and how her love and affection are. I recently watched a BBC investigative report by Senior Journalist Amitabh Parashar, “The Midwife's Confession” and cried. This is happening in modern civil society too. In this documentary, there are shocking confessions of rural midwives admitting they routinely murdered newborn baby girls in Bihar. He followed it for 30 years, but now, as per his report, things are changing but we can only imagine how difficult it is to be born as a girl child.

So this is one thing that is important for a girl child whether she is born in a minority Muslim family or any other family of any other religion. The first thing is to be born and survive. This is why I respect all those parents who take care of their daughters and give them the respect and space they deserve.  

In analyses, no basic society design is pro-women however the issue of Muslim women is more serious as they are marginalized within the marginalized section of society. The issues that Muslim women face are not an easy walk like any other women of the society. India or Bharat in recent times has seen a surge of various issues but at the same time, there has been a surge of hindrances too. Muslim women too, like other women face social design that has kept them desolate from decision-making positions.

The major hindrance is from within the community itself. Also if I am correct in my political analyses the Muslim women issue seems more of a political brickbatting at times on TV debates and some corners of fences. This kind of propaganda makes it a religious political issue taking away the social need and seriousness of Muslim women's empowerment. The omnipresent male gaze and the political gaze both become a hindrance in social solutions.

There is an essential need to understand that even Muslim women need to realize their basic fundamental rights as citizens of this country. Religion is a very personal issue. It should not come in the way of her progress. Now this can only be happening when she needs to realize that if she is progressing, she is not doing anything nonreligious or gunaahas it dubbed by quarters, we all know.

If we peep into history we see that the Arab world has had women businesswomen, women queens, women founders of universities, etc. Now what is it that the Muslim world has fallen blank on women's empowerment? Is it religion or is it politics of gender apartheid that’s happening in Taliban Afghanistan? Muslim women have been the power force in various revolutions like the Jasmine revolution.

Indian Muslim women are the greatest power force for women's empowerment and in present times when the Indian government under bold leadership has taken several steps that go beyond the social persecution of Muslim women. It is imperative desire from the state to take several steps that can bring about the true empowerment of Muslim women.

The greatest hindrance is the lack of Muslim women's leadership. We need the political and social leadership of Muslim women. Educational institutions should be led by women. The recent appointment of the first women vice chancellor of AMU is one great giant step and an example to follow in many places.

However political agendas do pose an impediment to Muslim women empowerment and it becomes difficult for the state too to take steps. This is where the community and community leaders must come up with an unbiased approach toward women's empowerment. It is sad that if one hovers eyes around any Muslim organization like schools or universities one would find only one kind of women being promoted and supported who are fitting right in an image of Muslim women's Islamic identity.

Mostly outspoken educated women are discouraged and regarded as a threat to the religion and also one who would pollute the pious women. The community has to rise above this thought and understand that subjugating women on the pretext of protecting religion is a mere patriarchal tool and nothing less than a tool to subdue women and keep them away from leadership. I would consider it a feudal design that keeps women away and only the male is the heir. It’s high time the Muslim community owns up and puts forward its foot to accept women beyond religious identity. When Muslim men can have an identity away from religion why only women are expected to carry the tag of orthodox identity? 

The role of the state is to make laws and empower women to break these shackles and rise ahead. As women progress I am reminded of one religious leader who very violently approached me after my lecture at an international conference and said it is because of women like you who are promoting gender equality our society is being destroyed. But I am hopeful as I get much support from many religious male quarters also who support and believe that women empowerment is also a part of religious empowerment.

It’s very simple like any other society or religion that is patriarchal hammer Muslim society also wants women to progress but not lose their Islamic identity. There is nothing wrong with it but the same idea doesn’t work with the men of the Muslim community hence it's loudly discriminatory. Responsible religious leaders need to give a call for women's participation in mainstream life and not just signatory. Here also the government needs to start a dialogue with women representatives and have a discussion with the women folk. What women want is quite simple and not complicated.

The major impediment lies within the community. There should be awareness and realization within the community about it. The state's support against discriminatory practices should be analyzed. All civil laws irrespective of any religion are patriarchal and designed to keep women still as gatherers and men hunters as Stone Age roles.

Political parties must encourage Muslim Women's Leadership (MWL). We need more schools and colleges that are women-friendly. Scholarships and fellowships for Muslim women should be increased. Progressive women thinkers and leaders within the community should be encouraged and empowered by the state to bring about change in the community.

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However, the most important aspect is that every Muslim woman should realize that her progress is not anti-religion. I am reminded of my mother who used to say if the Muslim community wants women to be safe then they should encourage them to drive. She said the car is a woman's safe space and there is no need for a namehram for her. It is the progressive thought and action and not the signatory religious identity that helps. Be your own light and torch bearer woman and men please support that by realising her dream and not what you want her to dream.

Dr. Syed Mubin Zehra is an academician, columnist, Historian and a strong voice on Gender and Human Rights.