New Delhi

The Women Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind is planning to launch a month-long campaign in September to generate awareness about the rising incidents of violence against women in India.

The campaign named 'Morality is the basis of freedom' seeks to create awareness among people about “real freedom.”

This was announced by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind's National Secretary Rahmatunnisa at a press conference. Expressing grief over the increasing sexual violence against women in the country, she said, "Deeper social inequalities, misogyny, prejudice, and discrimination against women have complicated the situation further for women."

She said there is need for a deeper thinking into the reasons behind the rising incidents of sexual violence, especially against women of marginalized communities like Dalits, tribals, minorities, and disabled women.

She said that incidents like rape and murder in RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Bihar, rape and murder of a nurse in Uttarakhand, and sexual harassment of two kindergarten girls in a school in Maharashtra prove that there is a need for serious introspection on the mindset and attitude towards women and girls in our country.

The partially released Hema Committee report in Kerala reveals that even the most liberal workplaces like the entertainment industry lack safety for women. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), crimes against women are increasing every year.

However, these numbers, Rahmatunnisa said, are the tip of the iceberg as these are based on registered cases.

She also highlighted the plight of Bilkis Bano, who was gang-raped in the 2002 Gujarat riots, and those convicted for the crime have been set free after completing their sentence.

Rahmatunnisa said that "the mindset of oppression on women has spread like an epidemic which is affecting the peace and development of our country." She blames the “decline of moral values ​​in the name of freedom” as the reason behind this.

“Problems like lack of moral values ​​in society, objectification of women, sexual exploitation and abuse, prostitution, extramarital affairs, increasing use of alcohol and drugs, etc. lead to oppression and exploitation are behind it.”

Similarly, the rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), abortion, sexual violence, and rape, besides the breakdown of family unit and prevalence of promiscuity are rapidly destroying the moral fabric of the society.

Moreover, the growing influence of communal and caste-based politics and the desire to demean and dominate certain communities and castes have worsened the situation. Criminals and accused are presented as heroes for political and material interests when they should be condemned.

Shaista Masood, joint secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said, "The fact cannot be denied that one can achieve real life and lasting freedom only by following moral values. This campaign aims to ensure the freedom necessary to fulfill basic needs and achieve basic rights for all without discrimination of caste, community, colour and race, sex, religion, and region.”

During the campaign, awareness programmes will be organised at the national, state, district, and grassroots levels involving academicians, counselors, lawyers, religious scholars, and community leaders.

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Special programs will be organized on the campus to introduce students and youth to true freedom and moral values. Special programs will be organized involving scholars from different religions for public discussion on the common moral values ​​in every religion and culture.