New Deobandi fatwa against woman judges

New Delhi, Aug 7: After proclaiming that it was 'un-Islamic' for Muslim women to work, now Darul Uloom Deoband has issued a fatwa against the women judges.

The latest edict says that Muslim women should not become judges as it is forbidden in the religion.

The fatwa has been posted on the Islamic seminary's website in response to a question, .

The fatwa has raised several voices of protests.

"Somebody's qualification should be judged by education and upbringing and not by gender. This is bias," advocate and women activist Mumtaaz Akhtar is quoted as saying in a news agency report.

"A woman understands the plight of another woman better. These types of diktats only dishonour the work done by several Muslim women in the field of judiciary, she said adding that the welfare of the community should be kept in mind before issuing such decrees.

Observing that such fatwas affect the mindset of people and pose hurdles for Muslim women who want to opt for this profession, Supreme Court advocate Kamlesh Jain said, "There are only 10-15 per cent women who are working in different departments of judiciary and they are performing extremely well. A woman advocate or judge is preferred in cases related to women issues but there are not enough women in the field."

OneIndia News