Indian Girls Banned Mobiles
 

A local Muslim community in Udaipur district in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan has urged the families to prohibit girls from carrying mobile phones and dancing at weddings in public view to maintain their safety and security.

“We have asked the community families to not allow their girls to carry mobile phones outside homes,” Habiburrehman, secretary of the Anjuman Muslim Panchayat in Salumbur town, told PTI news agency on Friday, January 11.

“They can use it in front of their parents but not in schools or colleges so that they do not get involved with boys.”
Habiburrehman added that another ban on women dance in weddings was urged to protect women from being objectified.

“We are also against objectifying women so decided to ban their dance in wedding procession which is taken out in open on roads,” he said.

“However, there is no restriction inside their house and they can dance or sing in the function in the house.”

The panchayat has also warned couples against eloping as they would be ostracized by the community.

“A couple cannot get married against the wishes of the family,” a member of the panchayat said.

Those who elope to get married would be fined.

“A fine of Rs 51,000 will be imposed on them. Those who marry in a different community too would have to pay the fine,” Habiburrehman said.

Another fatwa on mobile phone was issued earlier this January by the leading Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband (DuD).

The leading seminary banned the use of multimedia cell phones on its campus.

Yet, students were allowed to use simple handsets without camera or video features because these features were causing an adverse effect on academics.

Justified

The Panchayat community justified the decisions as necessary to maintain a secure environment in the community.

“It is for the safety and security of girls. There have been cases where girls and boys in our community did intercaste marriage,” Habiburrehman said.

It is a serious trend and our community wants to ensure that no such happening reoccurs so the community panchayat took the decision.”

He added that panchayat was “not against” the freedom of women.

“We promote them to get education but at the same time, we want to ensure that they follow and honor social arrangements also,”

Muslims make up about 13 percent of India's population, making the country the third largest Islamic population after Indonesia and Pakistan.
Indian Muslim Community Bans Girls Mobiles - Asia-Pacific - News - OnIslam.net...