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The Ashana Trust

Publications

Indian Muslim Women’s Movement

For Gender Justice and Equal Citizenship

This collection of essays and articles captures the beginning of the Muslim women’s movement in India in the last two decades. Written at different points during the journey, these pieces provide a glimpse into the collective tumultuous journey of women demanding reform in Muslim family law in India and for equal citizenship without discrimination. This journey was undertaken by ordinary women under their own leadership. This collection highlights the challenges faced by women. It also celebrates successes such as the organization of women into groups, abolition of triple talaq and women’s entry into theof Haji Ali Dargah. This book is a collection of articles written by authors, individually and jointly in various newspapers, magazines, journals and other publications. It challenges the misogynist regressive norms for women in family set by patriarchal religious groups. It calls for state accountability in providing safety, security and equality to Muslim citizens. Based on experiences and insights from grounded struggle of ordinary women, these essays give hope and provide strength in addressing discrimination through shared vision and collective democratic action. It calls out the failure of conservative religious leadership as well as elected representatives in providing an enabling environment to the community and particularly, women. It calls out certain feminists for their dual standards and for unsuccessful attempts to weaken the movement for reform in family law led by ordinary Muslim women.

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Women’s Shariah Court-Muslim Women’s Quest for Justice

An Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum For and By Muslim Women

Would it be easy to imagine a court where justice is dispensed not by women and men wearing black flowing gowns but by ordinarily dressed, uneducated women? Muslim women living in slum communities of Mumbai took upon themselves the job of providing legal aid to other distressed women. Need for justice is as crucial as other needs, especially for women who face marginalization on a large scale. This book looks closely at the genesis of these groups, their history, their interventions, their motivations and their contributions to women’s movement. The book suggests recommendations for strengthening alternative dispute resolution forums where justice will be dispensed not by learned lawyers but by ordinarily dressed unlettered women. These women, through their innate sense of justice reaches out passionately towards other equally battered women and together they journey towards a life of dignity.

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Reclaiming Sacred Spaces

Muslim Women’s Struggle for Entry into Haji Ali Dargah


Nobody imagined that a democratic struggle by ordinary Muslim women would hit patriarchy at its core and yield a great step forward towards gender justice. The ‘Haji Ali Case’ not only challenged the patriarchy within the Muslim community but it also created space for an alternative voice which was desperately trying to speak the language of equality, justice, and democracy. This struggle created space for an open debate on women’s rights and religion. A Muslim woman is a world citizen today. She has all the right to lead the change not just for herself or her community but for all humankind. This book captures the struggle to reclaim sacred spaces from patriarchal forces and hopes to inspire other similar movements led by women

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From Seclusion And Exclusion To Inclusion

Indian Muslim Women & Their Initiatives

This study looked at the efforts made by the Muslim women through their NGOs in ameliorating the socio-economic conditions of the Muslim community. In many different discourses within and outside the community, Muslim women are projected as victims of community neglct and state apathy. This is true to a large extent but what is missing in these narratives is the fact that Muslim women are sitting hand on hand crying over their status. All along, right from pre-independence days, Muslim women have fought at different levels and through different means to address their own concerns. This study looked specifically at these efforts. Muslim women across the country have set up their own small and big NGOs and through it are involved in developmental efforts. The purpose behind the book was to showcase that effort to present Muslim women as not just victims but also agents of change. The sheer hard, commitment and change that these organisations have been able to bring about has been exemplary and this study is a salute to those salute to them.

BMMA and ORF jointly carried out this study. It was originally published in English and an abridged version was also published in Hindi and Urdu.

Moklya Shwashacha Shodhat

A study on status of Muslim Women in Mumbai

Since last many decades Muslim women have come into their own and now it is not possible to stop their flow towards growth and development. They are now increasingly becoming aware of their oppression and also about their own strength to fight this oppression. They are now on the roads to fight it out for themselves. There was a time when they would not speak up before the clerics or anyone with a semblance of having religious knowledge. But times have indeed changed and they are able to put up a resistance with their knowledge. This study was done by a senior author J.S Apte who had a deep commitment to Muslim women’s rights. Inspite of his age we would meet up with him to discuss the entire process, right from data collection to the final publication. This study captures the lives of 300 Muslim women from the city of Mumbai who lived in poor living conditions and part of the lower socio-economic strata. Some data is given here: 59% of the women interviewed never went to school, 26% of the women reported that their husband is also illiterate. Less that 10% have finished school, less than 15% have a source of income, 66% are self-employed and 75% need to take permission from their husband for all matters. It is a difficult life which revlves around marriage, children, care work, income-generation. Many argue that these are issues of all women and not just Muslim women, so why single her out? This is only half the truth. Women are affected by the identity they carry. While much of common exists between a Muslim and Dalit woman, but a part of their problem emerges from their identity as a Muslim or a Dalit We can ignore that at our own peril because if issues don’t get identified and acknowledged, then they don’t get worked upon. This book offers nothing new but it is important to reiterate time and again that we have an 80 million population of Muslim women that is deprived in all senses. No country can develop with such a backlog. This book in Marathi is an eye opener to the problems as well as possibilities for change.

Seeking Justice Within Family

Muslim Women’s Views on Muslim Personal Law

This study was done in the slum communities of Mumbai. It was important as a Muslim women’s organisation to look with a special focus at the health conditions of Muslim women. Mumbai, being a metro city, presents a grim picture of our slums especially the ghettos where the large majority of Muslims reside. This study is a reflection of that status and grim reminder of what the state needs to do as its constitutional responsibility. A health survey was conducted in various parts of Bandra East, Mumbai to understand the health conditions of Muslim women. The respondents were from various localities of Behrampada, Bharatnagar, Navpada, Nirmal Nagar, Tata Colony and Jyaneshwar nagar. Some respondents were from the neighbouring areas of Golibar in Khar east, Lohiya Nagar of Parla west and Kalina in Santacruz east. All respondents belonged to the slum communities in this area. The women belonged to lower socio-economic strata. The age group of women was between 13-45 years of age. 13% of the women surveyed were between the age of 13-17 years, 18% were between the age group of 18-21 years, 15% between the age of 22-25 years of age, 14% between the age of 26-29 years, 16% between the age of 30-33%, 11% between the age of 34-37 years and 13% for the women between 38-45 years of age. Largely the educational status of the women was low. Most of them have studied up to class 10. 13% of the respondents are illiterate, 3% are educated less or till Std 4th, 27% have studied between 5th-8th std. 28% have been educated between 9th and 10th std. 28% of them have attended college of which only 8% have graduated. Out of the 250 respondents, 27% of the respondents are un-married, 62% are married, 5% are widow, 3% are divorcees and 4% are single.
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Status of Women in Polygamous Marriages and Need for Legal Protection

Muslim Women’s Views on Muslim Personal Law

Muslim women have been denied legal protection in matters of family law in India. We have been demanding a comprehensive reform in family law in keeping with the Quranic injunctions of gender justice and constitutional principles of justice, equality and non-discrimination. Under-age marriages, unilateral instant divorce or triple talaq, nikahhalala, polygyny or more than one wives [broadly referred to as polygamy] have been some of the violations of women’s human rights. After a successful movement against instant unilateral triple talaqleading to the Supreme Court declaring it illegal, it is necessary to look at the question of polygamy practiced by husbands. We believe that our religion does not permit it in today’s context. This permission to have more than one wives was granted with strict conditions which were difficult to abide by. There is always a difference between permission and encouragement and the Quran has never encouraged polygamy. It is also a violation of various articles of the Constitution granting justice and equality to women citizens. We call for a legal ban on polygamy. No man should be able to legally marry another time when his first wife is alive. We present here the findings based on a survey carried out by us in 10 states – Delhi, Rajasthan, MP, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, Telangana, Odisha, West Bengal and UP. We specially thank Prof. Justin Jones of Pembroke College, Oxford for his valuable support to this survey.
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Courage Unlocked

Personal Stories of Muslim Women’s Lives, Struggles and Leadership

In this book the authors have tried to fill up the pages of feminist history with the voices of Muslim women through their own lenses and their own voices. This collection of memoirs is meant to highlight the leadership potential and impact of a Muslim woman, her agency, her education, her fierce commitment and her fearlessness in the face of adversity. It is meant to create a historical record for future generations to inspire them and to educate them about the legacy that they have inherited. It is also meant to inspire more and more women to take up the charge of themselves, their community and their country.

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Health Status of Muslim Women

HEALTH STATUS OF MUSLIM WOMEN – A SHORT STUDY

This study was done in the slum communities of Mumbai. It was important as a Muslim women’s organisation to look with a special focus at the health conditions of Muslim women. Mumbai, being a metro city, presents a grim picture of our slums especially the ghettos where the large majority of Muslims reside. This study is a reflection of that status and grim reminder of what the state needs to do as its constitutional responsibility. A health survey was conducted in various parts of Bandra East, Mumbai to understand the health conditions of Muslim women. The respondents were from various localities of Behrampada, Bharatnagar, Navpada, Nirmal Nagar, Tata Colony and Jyaneshwar nagar. Some respondents were from the neighbouring areas of Golibar in Khar east, Lohiya Nagar of Parla west and Kalina in Santacruz east. All respondents belonged to the slum communities in this area. The women belonged to lower socio-economic strata. The age group of women was between 13-45 years of age. 13% of the women surveyed were between the age of 13-17 years, 18% were between the age group of 18-21 years, 15% between the age of 22-25 years of age, 14% between the age of 26-29 years, 16% between the age of 30-33%, 11% between the age of 34-37 years and 13% for the women between 38-45 years of age. Largely the educational status of the women was low. Most of them have studied up to class 10. 13% of the respondents are illiterate, 3% are educated less or till Std 4th, 27% have studied between 5th-8th std. 28% have been educated between 9th and 10th std. 28% of them have attended college of which only 8% have graduated. Out of the 250 respondents, 27% of the respondents are un-married, 62% are married, 5% are widow, 3% are divorcees and 4% are single.
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Breaking the Silence

Lived Reality of 2500 Indian Muslim Women in Polygamous Marriages

The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan was formed in January 2007 at a national conference in Delhi attended by 500 women from different parts of the country. It is a democratic organisation of Muslim women, led by Muslim women, and which strives for the citizenship rights of all and particularly Muslim women. The BMMA believes in the values of equality, justice, and fairness enshrined in the Holy Quran as well as the Constitution of India. In its 16th year, it’s membership has crossed one lakh across 15 states. BMMA believes in democracy and secularism as propounded by the Constitution of India. We believe peace and justice to be the fundamental tenets of Islam. We oppose the denial of women’s rights in society and strive to build Muslim women’s leadership across the country. We work on the issues of education, livelihood, health, security, and law reform. We are opposed to communalism and violence and believe in communal harmony, mutual respect, and religious co-existence.

Breaking the Silence-Lived Reality of 2500 Indian Muslim Women in Polygamous Marriages reveals the harsh conditions of those who have been impacted by polygamy. It unpacks their lives through indepth case studies and detailed quantitative data to understand the emotional, social and economic toll of polygamy and its impact on women’s health, relationships, dignity and rights.

It is a study for the sake of transformation hoping to move the state and the community into action for family law reforms. It seeks to give voice to those who are silently suffering within the 4 walls of their home. It calls for action which moves the community towards justice, equality and compassion. Legislative protection is an important tool for social transformation and this study hopes to achieve that goal.

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Maharashtra Health Study

This is a study on the health conditions of Muslim community. It captures the basic health issues faced by the community, especially women, youth and senior citizens. It also explains how lack of basic infrastructure, health facilities by state disenables the development and growth of a community.

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Maharashtra MPL Study

This study captures the views of Muslim women on issues of family law like the age of marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption and custody, guardianship, inheritance. It is an attempt to enable gender just family law for the community.

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No More – Talaak, Talaak, Talaak

This study captures the impact of triple divorce on the lives of Muslim women. This study was also instrumental in helping the passage of the law against triple divorce. The stories of the victims of triple divorce carries their pain of their marital life and urges us to be more humane and just. 

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Draft of Codified Muslim Family Law

This draft of Muslim family law has been prepared by BMMA to ensure that the Muslim community is governed by a comprehensively codified law which covers issues of marriage, divorce, maintenance, custody, adoption, guardianship and inheritance. We hope to get this law passed by the Indian Parliament. 
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