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print version28 August 2010
Statement issued by ANHAD in Solidarity with Rayana R Khasi
ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) stands in full solidarity with Rayana R Khasi, from Kasaragod District, Kerala who has been lately receiving life threatening calls from fundamentalist organization Popular Front of India for not wearing Veil. We condemn in unequivocal voice all such fanatic, anti-constitutional and anti women attempts of issuing diktats.
It is a matter of grave concern that communal and fundamentalist forces are raising their heads in once a tolerant and progressive society of Kerala. There has been categorical escalation of fundamentalist and identity-based politics during the past two decades and unfortunately it has gone almost unchallenged. The politics deeply rooted in communal-hate politics and patriarchy must be countered strongly.
Victimization of Rayana R. Khasi has been going on for the last one year, yet no serious note was taken by the authorities to uphold her democratic rights. We are sure Rayana is not the only girl receiving threats for not following their diktats but she is one strong and vigilant individual who decided to stand by what she believes in and not to let any fundamentalist forces to take her freedom of expression lightly. Being a citizen of a democratic country she has all the freedoms including what she wants to wear, how she wants to live, what she believes in.
ANHAD demands from Kerala government to provide her full security because any harm to her would be considered as an assault on secular and egalitarian ethos of Indian constitution.
Shabnam Hashmi and Seema Duhan
Anhad
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi 110001
Tel 23070740/ 22
[See also an SACW backgrounder with news reports regarding this case in the Indian media:]
1.
Young woman takes on Kerala’s ’Taliban’
by Sovi Vidyadharan
Kasaragod: For nearly a year, Rayana had been receiving death threats from fundamentalists for not wearing the veil. Now, this 23-year old engineering graduate from Kasaragod has spoken out.
"One man called me and threatened me. I got many such threatening letters, in that the man wrote that he will kill me," said Rayana R Khasi, Engineering Graduate.
Rayana received many threatening letters from Muslim fundamentalists for not wearing purdah. One of them clearly states that if she does not fall in line by the 26th of this month, she will be killed.
After initial hesitation by the police to register a case, Rayana moved the High Court. The police have now arrested four persons who threatened her.
One of the suspects is believed to be a member of Popular Front of India, the radical group that was involved in chopping off a lecturer’s hand last month.
"The High Court of Kerala has directed Kasaragod police to give protection to the lady. On that basis, we have given her 24-hour protection," said P Prakash, Superintendent of Police, Kasaragod.
Rayana’s case has sparked outrage across the state.
"It is actually Talibanisation, if you insist on a particular dress code," said K K Shailaja, State Secretary, All India Democratic Womens’ Association (AIDWA).
"This is a violation of not only fundamental rights but also human rights," said Justice D Sridevi, Chairperson, Kerala Women’s Commission.
Rayana believes her bold step will encourage many young women like her to speak out against such oppressive diktats.
Read more at: http://origin-netmg.ndtv.com/article/india/young-woman-takes-on-keralas-taliban-47690?trendingnow&cp
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2.
Daily News and Analysis, Aug 28, 2010
Anyone enforcing dress code should be isolated: Lawyers union
Place: Kasaragod | Agency: PTI
All India Lawyers Union (AILU) Kerala Unit has said a person has full freedom to wear any dress material acceptable to the society and anyone enforcing dress code on caste and religious consideration should be isolated.
Speaking to reporters in Kasaragod yesterday, EK Narayanan, state secretary of the Union, expressed concern over the murder threat reportedly served by an anonymous organisation on Raihana R Khazi, an aeronautical engineering graduate from Kasargod, recently for refusing to wear purdah.
Such incidents amount to naked violation of denying civic and democratic rights of a citizen, he said, adding the lawyers union would extend free legal assistance to any person facing similar situations in Kerala.
Earlier, Kerala high court had granted police protection to the 22-year-old Raihana for three weeks.
In her petition, Raihana had stated that after returning to Kerala from Chennai on completion of her course in August last, some neighbours and her distant relative insisted that she should wear Purdah, veil and head scarf. She resisted their interference on her religious freedom.
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3. Deccan Herald, August 13, 2010
Girl approaches HC after neighbour threatens her to wear Purdah
Kochi, Aug 12 (PTI):
Kerala High court on Thursday granted police protection to 22-year-old Aeronautical engineering graduate from Kasaragod district, who was being threatened by her neighbour and few others to wear Purdah.
In her petition, Ryhana R Kazi of Vidyanagar, Kasaragod stated that after returning to Kerala from chennai on completion of her course in August last, some neighbours and her distant relative insisted that she should wear Purdah, veil and head scarf. She resisted their interference on her religious freedom.
According to the petitioner, she was threatened by her neighbour, Mohammed Kavugoli of kasaragod and his henchmen with dire consequences if she refuses to wear purdah, veil and head scarf.
A division bench comprising Justice K M Joseph and Justice M L Joseph Francis directed Kasaragod Supertendent of police, Circle Inspector and Sub Inspector to provide police protection to the life of the petitioner, her parents and 5 siblings for 3 weeks.
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4.
Indian Express, August 13, 2010
Kerala engineer forced to wear veil; protect her, HC tells police
by Shaju Philip
Thiruvananthapuram:
The Kerala High Court today directed the police to provide protection to a young Muslim engineering graduate who says she is facing threats “for failing to wear purdah and headscarf†.
In her petition, Rayana R Kazi has named one Muhammed Kavugoli as the respondent, a man who claims to be an activist of the Popular Front of India (PFI), the fundamentalist Muslim body which allegedly chopped off a Christian teacher’s hand last month. Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has accused the PFI of attempting to turn Kerala into a “Muslim country†in the next 20 years.
A division bench of Justices K M Joseph and M L Joseph Francis today asked Kavugoli to appear before the court on August 18.
Rayana, who belongs to Kasargod district, says she has been under pressure from orthodox elements in her community to wear a headscarf and observe purdah since June 2009, when she returned from Chennai after completing an engineering course.
Two weeks ago, she got a letter, allegedly from Kavugoli, which accused her of insulting Islam and warned her of dire consequences.
“Seeing me in jeans and shirt, the local people of my community had unleashed a campaign that I had abandoned Islam. I strongly believe that I have the freedom to wear any dress of my choice,†said Rayana, who is now awaiting the result of the Civil Services Preliminary Exam.
Rayana said she has been getting threatening calls and anonymous letters for over a year. “I took up the matter with the local police and the state women’s commission, but the harassment has not stopped.â€
“My four younger sisters and parents too have been facing insults. The moral police has been spreading rumours that I have converted to Christianity,†said Rayana, the eldest daughter of a businessman.
In the recent months, Kerala has witnessed agitations by Muslim organisations demanding that Muslim girls be allowed to wear headscarves at school.
