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Surayya caught in the eye of a storm

D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram

The progressive sections in the Muslim community have viewed the utterances of writer Kamala Das, now Surayya, about Islam -- following her much trumpeted conversion to that religion -- with extreme concern. They feel that the opinions expressed by Surayya on sensitive issues such as the freedom of Muslim women, polygamy and the Muslim dress code would only strengthen the conservative elements in the community, who are trying to suppress reform.

Noted human rights activist advocate Pouran, who has been associated with organisations fighting for Muslim women's rights, said that the campaign by the Forum of Divorced Women for a review of the Shariat and for ensuring the freedom of entry into mosques have suffered a severe setback following Surayya's defence of Islamic practices.

The comments of a celebrated writer like Surayya would embolden the obscurantists to ride roughshod over simple women fighting for justice. He told rediff.com that several women's organisations in Malappuram, the Muslim heartland in Kerala, have expressed anxiety over the statements from Surayya. He said that V P Suhra, who had organised divorced women against the practice of triple talaq, was still facing death threats.

Tasni, who married a man of her choice under the Indian civil laws, was hounded by the conservatives. Her marriage was held under protection ordered by the Kerala high court. A Muslim youth, who practised Kathakali, a temple art, was forced by the fundamentalists to abandon the art he loved. His house was set on fire and his family boycotted until he abandoned Kathakali, Pouran added.

Another Muslim woman, who married a Christian youth, was forced to leave her husband and has since been living almost under "house arrest." "When we are living in an atmosphere where those who stand for reforms are physically threatened and even eliminated, Surayya, as a responsible writer, should have made her statements carefully," Pouran exclaimed.

He said that personally he felt the writer's conversion as only a change of residence in the figurative sense. "She has shifted to a convenient house where she would get more comforts," he added. He said that no sensible Muslim would support her after Surayya has announced her decision to go in for a marriage again. "Her marriage at the ripe age of 67 would not convince hundreds of poor Muslim women for whom marriage is still a mirage," Pouran said.

Pouran added that the progressive organisations based in Malappuram would be meeting shortly to discuss the situation to come out with an appropriate response to Surayya's campaign. V P Suhara, who has been campaigning for an end to the abuse of discriminatory divorce provisions among Muslims, said that statements made by Surayya after her conversion reflected her ignorance of the tenets of Islam and the actual condition of Muslim women in India. She wondered whether Surayya knew about the true nature of her new religion -- many Muslim women were undergoing torture due to the misinterpretation of Islamic laws.

"I am sorry to state that Surayya has not learnt anything about the Muslims even after her 27-year introspection. She should remember that the male-dominant vested interests in the Muslim community have denied every right to women. Surayya would do a big service to Islam if she could take up the cause of the oppressed women in the community,'' she added.

"Though Islam has sanctioned freedom to women, the influential males do not give it to them. As a result several evils such as child marriage, the triple talaq system, polygamy and the denial of equal property rights are rampant among Muslims," Suhra pointed out. "Surayya's lack of understanding of such issues could only help the vested interests and strengthen the obscurantists," Suhra warned.

Meanwhile, several religious scholars have defended Surayya. Former Kerala Waqf Board chairman Abdul Gaffar Moulavi said the writer's statement that Islam offered more freedom to women than any other religion was correct. However, he added that many of the laws were being misinterpreted by the public due to ignorance of the tenets of Islam and for individual benefits.

"In a country where religion does not have political powers, such things are natural. Islam is the only religion which allows women to say no to their husband. Like the male who possesses the right of talaq, women too have the same right -- fasakh . But it is not happening due to the peculiar circumstances prevailing in India today," he added.

Contrary to what people believe, it is not very easy for a Muslim to divorce his wife. There should be sufficient reasons for that, he said.

About the other rights, he said, "According to the law, women are eligible to get half of what their brothers get. In Muslim countries the groom is expected to pay a huge amount as mehr to the bride's father. But in India, the system of dowry is a hindrance to it."

"A Muslim women is not even expected to wash her husband's clothes or to breast-feed her baby. Which religion gives women such freedom?" he asked.

H M Fahurudeen Bakavi, the Imam of Bima Palli, said the Prophet preached in a dark age when Muslim women were deprived of freedom. At that time it was impossible for a woman to travel alone. It is unfair to say that the purdah (veil) takes away the freedom of women. God had made the body of women very attractive and if it were not properly covered it could ''lead to disaster,'' Bakavi said.

P K Hamza Moulavi Farookhy, the Imam of Palayam mosque too shared the same view. He said, if the purdah takes away the freedom of women, the dress worn by Christian nuns too have the same effect.

Surayya, who had earlier refused police protection, saying Allah would guard her, seems to have wilted under threats from Hindu fundamentalists. She has shifted the venue of her initiation into Islam from the Palayam mosque to her flat at Kochi. Surayya had planned to perform the rituals in the Palayam mosque on December 23.

In the meantime, Surayya has denied media reports that she is going to marry Rajya Sabha member Abdul Samad Samadhani. She said that Samadhani was like a son to her. "How can the mother marry the son," she asked. She said she was in love with a person in America and added that she would marry him. She refused to disclose the date of the marriage. "I have already discussed the matter with my children and it would be held soon," was all she would say.

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