Muslim sisters prevented from pursuing education, move court
Mumbai, June 12 (UNI) The Bombay High Court has directed the city police to provide adequate protection to two Muslim girls who are allegedly being prevented from pursuing higher education by their neighbours on ''religious grounds''.
A division Bench comprising justices Ranjana Desai and Dilip Bhosale gave the necessary directions yesterday on a petition filed by the two college-going sisters -- Zarina Shaikh and Samina Shaikh.
The girls have alleged that their neighbour Mohammed Ali and others are terrorising and threatening them and preventing them from pursuing higher education on the ground that their religion does not permit them to study.
Their parents were even beaten up and had to be hospitalised, the girls have alleged.
Adv Rajender Sorkar, who appeared on behalf of the sisters, told the court that the respondents had remarked to the girls that only ''girls of bad character go for higher education''.
The Division bench, while passing the directions, observed that it is shocking that such incidents happen in a progressive state like Maharashtra. The police must do everything to prevent ''their sisters and their families'' from being targeted by those who oppose the girls' higher education by saying that religion forbids it.
Meanwhile,
reacting
to
this,
All
India
Ulema
Council
secretary
Maulana
Mehmood
Daryabadi
pointed
out,
''According
to
Islamic
teachings,
Muslim
males
and
females
have
been
encouraged
to
pursue
higher
education.
Hence,
this
act
of
the
respondents
is
against
the
Islamic
teachings.''
UNI