SHAFAQNA– India‘s Supreme Court accepted to consider a petition presented by a Muslim couple to allow Muslim women to pray in mosques for the first time in centuries.
“This is a very good development. A couple has approached the court with a petition seeking the woman’s right to enter the mosque. This is allowed as per religion and as per equality principles. I support them both,” said Zakia Soman, co-founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) women’s association, speaking to Asia News.
India’s highest court last week issued notices to the central government, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and the Central Wakf Board (which manage charitable assets), on a public interest plea that said Muslim women should have unhindered access to all mosques across the country.
A few months ago, the court ruled in favour of women entering Hindu temples.
The Muslim couple appealed to the Supreme Court in order to abolish the centuries-old practice that prevents Muslim women from entering mosques.
Yasmeen Peerzade and her husband Zuber Peerzade organized the petition, arguing that women were previously allowed to enter mosques when the Prophet Muhammad was first teaching Islam hundreds of years ago, The Hill told.
“There should not be any gender discrimination and allow Muslim women to pray in all mosques,” they said in the petition, Reuters reports.
Currently, women are allowed inside a few mosques in the country but must use a separate entrance to worship in a segregated space.
“I question who gave the men the right to decide this,” says Zakia Soman. “I believe all places of worship should be open to women without discrimination of any kind”.
For the activist, it is good that the call for women’s equality should come “from ordinary citizens and from within the community.
India Supreme Court judge S.A. Bobde said the court will review the couple’s petition and make a ruling.