FILE – People shout slogans to support women’s rights activists opposing the ban on women entering the Muslim shrine Haji Ali Dargah, in Mumbai, India, Apr. 28, 2016.
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The PIL states that gender justice is inherent in the Quran and the decision contravenes the Hadith, which proves that there is no prohibition on women visiting graves.
Abdul Sattar Merchant, Chairman and Managing Trustee of Haji Ali Dargah Trust refused to comment on the issue and said soon a meeting of board of trustees would be called to decide on the matter and only then he would comment on it. But the court said in fact some of the verses run contrary to what is being contended.
Indicating that the trust would move the SC against the verdict, trustee Suhail Khandwani said, “We would have to sit down and study the order before we take any step”.
Why women in Kerala are not at the forefront in the fight for their entry to Sabarimala, unlike Haji Ali dargah, is precisely because they realize that they can not observe the 41-day vratam a devotee needs to observe before visiting the temple.
The dargah trust defended its stand, saying it was referred in the Quran that allowing women inside the dargah of a male saint was a grievous sin. It is simply regulated for their safety. Further, that object of the Trust framed under a scheme by the HC (in a suit) are in respect of purely secular activities of a non-religious nature, such as giving loans, education, medical facilities, etc.
Zakia Soman, one of the petitioner in the case said, “Today is a big day for Muslim women”. The right that women are entitled to get, the right that has been given to women in the Constitution that were somewhere taken away from us.
Speaking on dargahs in Hyderabad, she said, “Our city is much more liberal in many aspects”. It has restored the gender justice principles as found in the Quran as well as in the Constitution of India. As Zakia said, “it is not as if women are going to rush to pray at the shrine, we will go of course when it is finally decided, but it is a major victory for us”.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has expressed his views regarding the High Court’s decision. It is a historic decision and those who are against it can go to the Supreme Court and even protest as everybody has rights in a democracy, ” Trupti Desai said. Our agitation has been successful and the courts have recognized the equality and rights of women.
Now what remains to be seen is whether the Haji Ali court judgment will be obeyed like the court order concerning the Shani Shingnapur temple or disobeyed like the judgment on Dahi Handi.
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“It is a victory of all women and Bhumata brigade against patriarchial thinking. It is always at liberty to take steps to prevent sexual harassment of women, not by banning their entry in the sanctum sanctorum, but by taking effective steps and making provisions for their safety and security e.g.by having separate queues for men and women, as was done earlier”.
