India’s Muslim leaders and students have criticised a fatwa issued by one of the country’s principal Islamic seminaries, forbidding mixed classes in schools and universities.The Darul Uloom centre announced the religious edict last week. Claiming that “mixed education is illegal, because it is a potential source of evil”.
According to Akhtar Alvi, Professor at the Jamia Milia Islamia University in New Delhi, “The fatwa, as it appears, is directed to keep the Muslims as a backward community”.
Even some religious leaders have expressed their opposition to the initiative. “It is a proven fact that because we are lagging behind in education we have been unable to develop our community," said Maolana Khalid Rashid, a religious leader and a member of India's Muslim Personal Law Board in Lucknow.
“If we decide to keep girls away from the co-ed schools, we shall not be able to improve the miserable condition of India's Muslims”.
Shabana Yasmin, a management student in New Delhi, described the edict as “a senseless fatwa”.
“We don't have management and other higher-education institutes reserved exclusively for girls in the country, - continues the young Muslim - Now, if we follow this fatwa, no Muslim woman can become a good professional at all”.
“This fatwa – she adds - in fact robs the fundamental rights of a woman”.
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