Indian Chief Minister's Snatching of a Muslim Woman's Veil is Clear Proof of State-Sponsored Islamophobia: Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore Women's Wing

Lahore ( Nazrana Times)
Report Ali Imran Chattha 
 

A strong protest demonstration was held under the aegis of the Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore District Women's Wing against the shameful, insulting, and inhumane incident of a Muslim woman's veil being forcibly snatched by the Chief Minister of an Indian state. The purpose of this demonstration was to raise a voice against the rising Islamophobia in India, the humiliation of Muslim women, and the severe violation of fundamental human rights, and to express solidarity with the oppressed Muslim woman.
The protest demonstration was led by Dr. Humaira Tariq, Secretary General of the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Women's Wing; Dr. Samiha Raheel Qazi, Deputy Secretary; Samina Saeed, Deputy Secretary and Director Media Cell; and Azma Imran, President of the Lahore District Women's Wing.
Addressing the demonstration, Dr. Humaira Tariq stated that this incident exposes India's false and hollow claim of being the world's largest democracy. The reality is that India has now become a biased, oppressive, and tyrannical state where rulers take pride in publicly violating fundamental human rights. She said that publicly violating the dignity and honor of a Muslim woman is not merely an individual act but a clear and dangerous expression of state-sponsored Islamophobia, anti-Muslim sentiment, and extremist Hindu ideology. The disgraceful act of snatching the veil by the Indian Chief Minister reflects the atrocities committed against women in occupied Kashmir. If an educated and aware woman is not safe, then the safety of women of any religion in India is under severe threat. She emphasized that with such an irresponsible and biased neighbor, Pakistan must further strengthen its borders and ideological foundations.
Deputy Secretary Dr. Samiha Raheel Qazi said that if a Muslim minister had forcibly lifted the veil of a woman in Rajasthan, the global media would have been up in arms today. However, the world's silence on the issues of Kashmiri and Indian Muslim women reflects double standards. She stated that this incident is a serious violation not only of religious freedom but also of human rights, which must awaken the global conscience. She demanded that those who violate basic human rights be given strict and exemplary punishment.
Deputy Secretary and Director Media Cell Samina Saeed stated that today in India, not only in occupied Kashmir but across the entire country, there is a reign of cruelty and oppression. With such rulers in power, neither Muslim women nor Hindu women are safe. She demanded that all Muslim countries summon Indian ambassadors to formally register protests and increase pressure on India to protect minorities, especially Muslim women. The entire Muslim world should unite and take practical steps on this matter.
President of the Lahore District Women's Wing, Azma Imran, stated that the hijab and niqab of Muslim women are their identity, honor, freedom, and religious right, which no power can snatch away. In India, continuous attacks are being made on the modesty, religious freedom, and personal dignity of Muslim women, which are clear violations of human rights and international laws.
The leaders unanimously demanded that the international community, international human rights organizations, and the United Nations take immediate notice of this incident, review the rising Islamophobia in India, and take effective and practical steps to ensure the protection of the religious and human rights of Muslim women.
A large number of members and workers of the Jamaat-e-Islami Lahore District Women's Wing, housewives and working women, representatives of civil society, human rights activists, and media representatives participated in this peaceful protest demonstration and expressed full solidarity with the oppressed Muslim woman.