Malick Asgar Hashmi / New Delhi

The death of Ayesha who threw herself in Sabarmati River in Ahmadabad has shaken the Indian Muslim out of their belief that dowry deaths and domestic violence are not commonplace.

The incident of the 23-year old Ayesha jumping into the river after telling the world how fed up she was of being being harassed and tortured by her husband Arif and his family for dowry and recording in her mobile has gone viral on social media. 

She said her father, an Ahmadabad tailor, was being tortured by her husband and his parents for not giving dowry.

Though Islam prohibits dowry, this social evil has taken roots among Muslims. Women are being killed because of dowry. According to a report tabled in the Lok Sabha by the then minister Maneka Gandhi, on average, 39 women are killed every day for dowry; of these, a significant number is Muslim women.

Since Ayesha’s death, the Muslim organizations have suddenly become active against the dowry system. People are saying Ayesha’s death should serve as an eye-opener for society.

A radiant-looking bride Ayesha

The Muslim Personal Law Board has also raised concerns on this issue. Board General Secretary Mohammad Wali Rahmani said Ayesha’s death should be viewed as an incident rather than being seen from the prism of religion. He said the incident is sad for any society and the reasons behind Ayesha taking an extreme step need serious consideration.

Wali Rahmani says that Muslims should especially learn a lesson from this incident. It is a mean act to harass women by their husband or in-laws for not bringing in dowry. He said Muslims have to launch a campaign against this social evil.

Dr Asma Jahra, the chief convener of the Women's Wing of the All India Personal Law Board, says, "Taking dowry is prohibited. Prophet Mohammed has made marriage easier. Yet this disease is spreading horribly in Muslim society. We have to campaign to end this on a war footing. "

AIMIM President Asaduddin Owaisi is so distressed about Ayesha's death that he spoke harshly against men seeking dowry and indulging in violence against women at a public rally. His speech posted on social media has gone viral. He said, "If you are a man, then stop harassing your wife. Beating your wife doesn't make you a man. He (Ayesha's husband) tortured the innocent girl; she was fed up. The dowry victim was harassed, beaten up making her take the extreme step.”

Taking a dig at Ayesha's in-laws,  Owaisi said, "Shame on her family, who took the life of our daughter."

He said the custom of giving dowry was growing in Muslim society and claimed people seek financial help for getting their daughters’ married often approached him.

It is noteworthy that the then Union Minister Maneka Gandhi presented a report in the Lok Sabha in 2016, in which the figures for 2012-14 were presented. According to it, 27,771 cases of dowry deaths were recorded during this period. There were a lot of Muslim women in it. The report said that 7,048 incidents of dowry deaths were recorded in Uttar Pradesh.

Ayesha was married to Arif Khan of Rajasthan in 2018. Her father gave a good amount as dowry. However, that never made Arif and his family happy.

Aisha’s father has lodged an FIR at the Sabarmati River Front Police Station in Ahmedabad, in which he says that within a few days of the marriage, Arif and his family had started demanding money. Ayesha was often beaten and even left at her parents’ home for not arranging money. Her father managed to raise Rs 1.5 lakh to pay o her greedy in-laws. However, the demand for money was never-ending. She was abandoned several times in her maternal home. In the past on the intervention of the community, Arif took her back. The same was repeated after a few days.

All this distressed Ayesha who has been living with her parents in Ahmedabad after she was recently dumped by Arif. She even called her husband and told him about her decision to end her life as the only way out of her unending agony

A callous Arif not only didn’t stop her but even told Ayesha to send him the video of her act of committing suicide. Ayesha even informed her parents of her decision. They tried to persuade her against this.

The video made for Arif and the soundtrack of her last conversation with her parents are being seen by people on social media. People are making angry comments on Arif and his family.

Based on the video, the police have started an investigation against Arif.