New Delhi: The rising cases of domestic violence and sex-selective abortions recently saw the All India Shiite Personal Law Board (AISPLB) hold a special meeting wherein it stressed its zero-tolerance policy against wife-beaters.
Mohammad Ahmad Ali Khan, New Delhi spokesperson of the AISPLB, said the board had proposed reforms to tackle violence in marriages and launched a toll-free helpline to help victims of domestic violence and gender bias.
Although there are laws forbidding foetal sex determination and sex-selective abortions in the country, a new study reveals that India will have 20 per cent more men than women in the next two decades.
Conducted by Dr Therese Hesketh and co-authors from the UCL Centre for International Health and Development, London, and published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the study says that easy access to sex-selective abortions had led to significant imbalances in the male and female population.
Khan said that the AISPLB, which was founded in 1972, had expressed displeasure over such issues and other rising problems faced by women.
"Among the many ills plaguing our society, female foeticide and domestic violence definitely rank high in the list," Khan said.
"Since women have been at the receiving end where male chauvinism still holds fort despite education, we are making concerted efforts to safeguard women's rights by providing them legal and social support. We hope the resolutions will be a milestone in the history of our community."
Khan spoke to Gulf News in an exclusive interview. Below are excerpts:
GULF NEWS: What were the reasons that resulted in the AISPLB choosing to ostracise men who beat up or desert their wives?
MOHAMMAD AHMAD ALI KHAN: For some time we had been getting numerous complaints on a daily basis from women against men. The issues became so serious that for the last two years we have been doing surveys to understand the concerns, as well as assess the economic conditions of the people belonging to our community. During the recent survey, we were startled to find that although in Islam, especially the Shiite sect, there are numerous privileges for women, they were [still] facing continuous hardships. The most important fact which came to light was that they were being ill-treated by their husbands and in-laws. Out of every four women, three were either deserted or divorced on minor pretexts and flimsy grounds.
According to the survey what were the main reasons for men deserting their spouses?
The two main factors were dowry and... female children. Studies have said that about 2,000 girls go missing in India daily due to female foeticide. In families, where one girl child already exists, the chances of a second girl born are as low as 54 per cent. And in a family with two female children, the chances of a third girl being born is as low as 20 per cent. This issue of female foeticide persists in the country irrespective of caste, creed or religion.
Apart from this issue, contrary to the Hindu custom, in Islam, the boy's family pays the mehar [nuptial gift] to the bride.
The general practice is that on the day of the marriage, both families decide on the amount of mehar, which is given by the groom's family to the bride.
But over the years the convention has been ridiculed and the groom's family not only demands dowry but also expect the bride's family to spend lavishly on the wedding.
So, [at] the AISPLB convention, it was decided that henceforth, the mehar would be in the form of cash and it must be decided well in advance before the wedding. The bride's family would be free to spend this amount to meet the marriage expenses. And we shall see in the next survey what changes have taken place and all possible measures will be taken to streamline the issues, including polygamy, which [have] seen [a] multifold increase in cases.
Is dowry the prime reason behind the practice of polygamy? How do you intend to tackle this issue?
Yes, unfortunately, dowry is the prime reason. Polygamy has been permissible, but there were strict conditions related to it. However, people have been taking advantage of it and misusing the privileges.
We have started a helpline number: 09839124865 for women in distress. They can report cases if they are harassed by men or their families demanding dowry, pressurised into aborting female foetuses or considering re-marriage. To see that women stand up for their rights, it is important to educate them and efforts are being made in this direction.
The board has plans of opening educational centres for women and also provide them [with] vocational training.
Which particular parts of the country have been the focus areas of the survey?
The survey was [carried out in] several parts of Uttar Pradesh, including Aligarh, Muzaffarnagar and Jaunpur and Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi.
And were the issues more prevalent among the low-income group?
Strangely, that is not correct. The most [disappointing] fact that came to the fore was that [the] majority of cases of women's harassment were reported from elite and upper middle-class educated families. In fact, about 70 per cent cases belonged to this category and 30 per cent from the lower strata of society.
Has the Board prepared a new nikahnama under which there will be inherent provisions to curb domestic violence?
Yes, we have already issued a statement regarding the nikahnama [marriage certificate].
It says that no ulema [body of religious scholars] will issue divorce proceedings and only in the most genuine cases [will] the second marriage... be allowed.
The board has also decided to ostracise those who beat or desert their wives.
How does the board propose to help uneducated women in distress who have no access to legal support and are victims of violence and harassment?
We have formed a forum of young lawyers who will take up such cases without any charges. Women will be free to approach them for cases related to domestic violence or any kind of harassment.
Ever since the Domestic Violence Act 2005 was passed, there have been complaints that women have been misusing the Act and harassing their husbands and in-laws. What percentage of such cases was reported during the survey?
We have not come across a single instance where a woman has filed a false case of domestic violence.
What are the other objectives of the board?
We are demanding that political parties include reservation for Shiite Muslims in their election manifestos and give tickets to them. We do not get nominations for the Rajya Sabha and are seeking representation in the Parliament as well as state assemblies.
The board has decided that henceforth we shall not vote for political parties [which] do not look into our interests.
Are these guidelines endorsed by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and other organisations?
Although we are a separate organisation, the issues are common. And we are getting support from many organisations.
Factfile: Brief history
- Mohammad Ahmad Ali Khan was born on May 11, 1955, in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, to Abrar Fatima and Syed Raza Ali Khan.
- Early education from Our Lady of Fatima Convent School, Aligarh.
- B.Tech from Aligarh Muslim University.
- M. Tech from Delhi University.
- Director, DIDAS India Pvt Ltd, a construction company, having offices in the Middle East.
- Presently, New Delhi spokesperson of the All India Shia Personal Law Board, headquartered in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
