Kolhapur/ Nagpur: The Maulavis of Majlis-e-Shura-Ulama-e-Shahar Committee have issued diktat for Muslim community women not to be encouraged to contest elections of Kolhapur Municipal Corporation. The diktat was issued by Maulavis last week, said the media reports.
According to diktat, contesting elections by Muslim women is against their religion. However, Hilal Committee, which is a higher local body of Imams, criticizing the disktat, said, the diktat is against the spirit of Constitution of India, therefore it cannot be followed.
Members of Majlis-e-Shura-Ulama-e-Shahar Committee explained that the Majlis does not intend to discourage Muslim women, yet this diktat is a general advise according to religious orders and practice. The diktat issued on September 23 highlights that Shariya and two more religious rules in Islam are considered sacred, under which Muslim women should avoid contesting political elections.
The committee members further said, when the political parties had started declaring the names of their candidates, the diktat, bearing no signature of any one, was displayed among influential leaders. So far 20 Muslim women are participating in the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation elections. Hilal Committee has clearly announced that the Muslim women should not bother about any such diktat, and demanded that Muslim women must be allowed to contest MC elections without any difficulties.
