Not just GENDER divide: Interview with Shaista Amber

Pradeep Kapoor Lucknow

Shaista Amber is the president of All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board and chairperson of the Nationalist Communist Party. She has been fighting for the rights of Muslim women and shocked Muslim fundamentalists when she came out with the model nikahnama which sought more rights for Muslim women to protect them from exploitation in the name of talaq. She spoke to Hardnews on various issues confronting Muslim women.

How aware are Muslim women about elections? Do they have the power to politically influence their family?

Muslim women belonging to the higher income group and pursuing careers in teaching, medicine and in the corporate sector are aware about the elections. But, they consider politics as something bad. If given a chance, they believe they can do a better job in elections and power politics. Middle class Muslim women are more aware of elections and politics. But, being housewives, they cannot come out of their homes. Those belonging to the lower income group have no idea of elections and politics as they are more concerned about running the households and are often victims of domestic violence. They are not even aware whether their names are in the electoral rolls. Overall, Muslim women have no power to influence their family members on the issue of voting. The male head of the family decides and directs them to vote as per
his choice.

What do you think of the issues that have angered the Muslim community over the years?

Muslim women are more angry as they find it difficult to pay the fees of their children due to financial crisis. They have to grapple with the lack of ration at home and also with problems arising out of divorce and widowhood. Those who are working as weavers in Azamgarh, Mau, as chikan workers in Lucknow or in the carpet industry in Bhadoi, brass works in Moradabad or glass factories in Firozabad, fall victims to the exploitations by dalals (middlemen). Majority of the women are victims of talaq and exploitation by religious persons who in the name of religion are actually the oppressors. Recently, I met a pregnant woman who has been divorced. Her husband had tortured her and stripped her of her clothes in front of her relatives. I am fighting her case and intend to take it to a logical conclusion to protect her rights. Our board has prepared a model nikahnama which gives more rights to Muslim women and protects them from talaq given in a wrong way.

The police across the country have harassed the Muslim community by picking up young men in the name of terror probes. Then there was the Batla House encounter. How do you think is the psyche of Muslims affected by it?

Muslims, especially women, are angry over the harassment of young men from the community and labelling them as terrorists. Regarding the Batla House encounter, let me tell you, the widow of the police officer killed was also a woman. Widows will remain women, be it Hindu or Muslim. In my opinion, the ISI and the RSS are involved in a conspiracy to instigate communal riots in the country. And they are being helped by
political parties.

What about the education of Muslim women?

During the last 61 years, political parties, be it the Congress, the BJP, the Samajwadi Party or the BSP, nobody has bothered to look into the issues of education. Successive governments have failed to ensure 'education for all' and bring about equality in education. There are two types of education systems operating in the country: one is for urban areas while the other is for rural areas. The situation is so pathetic that there is only one teacher for 1,000 students. That is why Muslims do not send their chilren to schools - without walls or a roof.

What is the social condition of Muslim women?

Muslim women do not enjoy the same protection as Dalit women enjoy under the SC/ ST Act. More than 15 Muslim women were raped in Dhannideeh village in Shravasti in Gonda district, UP, last year but no action was taken. The Minorities Commission has no power to influence the government or political parties. That is why even FIRs are not lodged in rape cases. Dalit women enjoy the provision of funds for marriage and pension for widows. These facilities are denied to Muslim women. I feel that as part of a conspiracy, names of Muslims in general and women in particular have been removed from voters' lists and they have been denied BPL ration cards. That is why Muslims have not been able to get the benefits from central schemes worth several thousand crores sent to the states. The real danger is that if Muslims fail to provide adequate certificates or proofs of residence, then they would be declared Bangladeshis
and deported.

What about the role of Muslim political and religious leaders in handling protracted problems confronting women?

Muslim leaders in the Congress raised slogans for the community from time to time and got benefits for themselves in power politics. But they did nothing for the community or its women. The Congress is responsible for the opening of locks at the Babri Masjid which led to its demolition when Narasimha Rao was the prime minister in Delhi. The UPA government failed to implement the Sachar Committee recommendations which highlighted the poor condition of the community. Mulayam Singh Yadav, who has been getting Muslim support since 1990, has also used Muslims to get power but did very little for the community. If he was so concerned about the welfare of Muslims, why couldn't he make somebody from the minority community as the chief minister of UP?

Muslim religious leaders have also failed in their duty. During elections, these Muslim religious leaders join hands with political parties and become members of their durbars and issue appeals to the Muslim community to give votes to a particular leader or party. When elections are over, the same religious leaders fail to mount pressure if innocent persons are arrested on the basis of false reports or doubts. Like what happened in Azamgarh recently.

What about the growth in Muslim groups and political parties in recent months?

I had recently organised a seminar: Hindustan ki rajniti mein bhatakta Musalman. During the last few months, several groups and political parties floated by Muslims have surfaced in UP. Among them are the Ulema Council, Peace Party, Jamiat-ul-Ulema Hind, Momin Conference and others. Several Muslims rushed to Delhi to protest in two trains, and later, came to Lucknow under the banner of the Ulema Council. Their leaders gave provocative speeches and antagonised the Muslims by and large. They are all helping the RSS and the BJP as they might polarise communities and hence push Hindus behind the Sangh Parivar as a reaction. It would also divide Muslims and make their votes redundant. The main priority of Muslims should be to vote for the party which would work in their interest and for the country as a whole.

What about the Kalyan factor in UP politics?

Even Muslim women are against Mulayam for having joined hands with Kalyan Singh who was responsible for the Babri Masjid demolition. Some members of the All India Muslim Women Personal Board expressed their anger against the Mulayam-Kalyan pact. Muslim women are aware of the fact that Mayawati had become chief minister thrice with the support of the BJP and she even backed Narendra Modi.

What about the share of Muslim women in power politics?

Muslim women have been denied a share in power politics. Not many women come forward and those who come out are not given proper positions. Successive governments and parties treat Muslims as a vote-bank only. Even for Muslim women who are in power politics and became block pramukhs, panchayat presidents, MLAs, MLCs and MPs, the real power is being enjoyed by their male relatives, be it brother or husband.

Did any political party support the cause of the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board?

Only leaders from the Samajwadi Party and the BSP came forward and offered help. But they wanted me and the other members to join their parties. We were offered positions in the party. They had no plans to meet our demands.

What about the series of fatwas being issued on insignificant issues?

Most fatwas are illegal and do not conform to the spirit of the holy Quran. They should not be taken seriously. We are also against the misuse of Islam for marriage as in the case of 'Chand and Fiza'. Let there be a screening first to find out whether the person concerned is embracing Islam for faith or for some other purpose. We are also opposed to Talibanisation of education. Recently, the madarsa board issued a directive that co-education would not be permitted from classes I to VIII. I think it is the responsibility of the parents to see that their children behave properly in schools and colleges. We are against such Talibani farmans and we will oppose them always.