A group of Muslim women in a village, fed up with what they say are sexist decisions made by the male authorities particularly in divorce cases, have decided to build their own mosque. The women in the village of Parambu in Tamil Nadu have formed a group called Chaaya (Shadow) and acquired land to build the mosque. "This decision was taken after we found male-dominated jamaats (dispute settlement forums) handing down discriminatory verdicts in family disputes, especially in divorce matters," said Sherifa, the convenor of Chaaya, who uses just one name.
| Under the caliphate, of course, this sort of thing won't happen... |
"When a man seeks divorce, only his case is heard by the jamaat. The wife is never called for a hearing, saying that women are not permitted inside mosques, where the jamaat usually sits," she said. "A survey conducted by us showed that in one out of every five Muslim households, there is at least one case of desertion by the husband or second marriage by the man, citing some mental or physical disability of the first wife," said Rasheeda, another villager. "And when these matters were taken to the police station, they asked us to settle (them) with the jamaat, which are controlled by men."
| It'd probably be easier for them if they became Buddhists or Farsis or agnostics, but then they'd have to be killed, of course... |
Opinion is divided on whether the women are right to build their own mosque, the newspaper said. A woman priest well-versed in the Quran and Islamic tenets is to take charge at the new mosque. Mohammed Sikander, secretary of a jamaat in Chennai, said: "Jamaats have been asked to settle disputes outside mosques so that they can hear the women's side."
| Women have a side? When did that start? |
All India Muslim Personnel Law Board vice-chairman Maulana Kalbe Sadiq said the women had every right to construct a mosque. |