What is at stake in the hijab issue https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/karnataka-udupi-muslim-right-what-is-at-stake-in-hijab-issue-7778969/ Javed Anand Secularists must support rights of Muslims in an increasingly Islamophobic world, but they should be wary of strengthening the Muslim right in the process February 18, 2022
On the one hand are a large majority of secularists see (it) as yet another attempt by Hindutva forces to impose their majoritarian agenda on the minorities. as defending the Muslim women’s constitutional right to freedom of religion, right to education, right to freedom of choice. On the other hand, are the relatively fewer voices of Muslim women and men at pains to point out that all the Quran asks of Muslim men and women is that they dress “modestly” and “decently”. Neither the hijab nor the full-body burqa has anything to do with the fundamental tenets of Islam. ..For progressive, reform-oriented Muslims, the veil is an age-old symbol of patriarchy whose origin lies outside Islam to which the mullahs of Islam continue to cling on to perpetuate male dominance over women. According to them, the veil is not a standalone issue; rather, it is among the external manifestations of an Islam which is at odds with modernity and a secular-democratic polity. ..
As for the Muslim girls’ right to education, it may be worth pondering over whether education is for degrees alone or is education for life? A young Muslim woman has poignantly commented in a chat group of secularists: “What have we come to as a community? We need to initiate (the) process of dialogue within to figure out how to counter the increasing conservatism and fundamentalism in the community. If we don’t, the BJP will.” If not the communal BJP, the secular courts might.
Comment in WA: S Sen: In other words, the "right" is to be defended, while the "practice" is to be (gently) discouraged.
It's well known that as with the Hindus, the Muslims have no dearth of religious Right amongst their ranks. In the (life-and-death) fight against the Hindu Right - the crying need of the day, the Muslim Right find an opportunity to place itself at the fore. It becomes quite tricky for the rational-egalitarian opponents of the Hindu Right - given the desperate situation we're at the moment in, to squarely denounce the Muslim Right - with some capability to mobilise masses, without damaging the prospects of the immediate fight on hand. And, all these are not drawing room exercises. So, the difficulty is very much there and the tackling demands high level of proficiency and some thinking on one's feet.
To illustrate, many (or most?) of us would find the Jamaat ideology quite obnoxious, many, yet, at times, go with them on specific issues. But, even that helps to enhance the credibility of the organisation. It's a tough choice. No doubt about that. And a lot depends on how one assesses the fight on hand.