New Delhi: A prominent Muslim cleric from Uttar Pradesh, home to the largest Muslim population in India, has issued a fatwa against female foeticide.
A sharp drop in the sex ratio according to latest census figures, which has fallen to 899 from 916 against 1,000 males registered in 2001, led to the issue of the fatwa.
"Even though the law does not permit abortion, people are openly violating the rules and getting their female child aborted across Uttar Pradesh," Maulana Khalid Rasheed, Lucknow's Naib Imam and head of Darul Uloom Firangi Mahal was quoted as saying by a leading news portal.
The latest provisional census figures issued is alarming due to a sharp decline in female child birth rate in 63 out of 71 districts of the state. While Uttar Pradesh's population has grown by 30 million over the past decade, the number of female children in the 0-6 years age group has declined by a million.
"Abortion is strictly banned under Islam and the latest census report has clearly shown that it was female foeticide that has led to a disproportion between the male and female population in the state. I therefore feel that timely action alone can save the situation from turning worse," the Islamic clergy was quoted as saying.
Although sex determination tests are banned and attract punishment in India, ultrasound centres continue to mushroom all over the country where sex determination tests are done for a price leading to a large number of female infanticide.
