[1]A religious body doesn’t want youth to use mobile phones. A resolution passed by a faction of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board also wants parents to ensure that their wards, especially girls, do not use mobile phones as it makes them ‘behaya’ (shameless).
Youngsters in the capital are far from amused by this remark and share their concern. Shereen Iqbal, HR professional, avers, “It’s not at all fair. How can any religious body pass such remarks? I feel both sad and angry to learn about this as it affects the image of Muslims. Who knows tomorrow they will ask to ban TV and Internet. Also, girls have their parents to decide the limit of ‘behayayi.’”
Having a cellphone today is more about necessity than anything else. Jamshed Khan, entrepreneur, appeals, “I ask these maulanas why don’t they think about the positive sides of keeping a mobile phone. So many girls have been saved just because they could make a call or message for help at difficult times. In a place like Kashmir, keeping a phone is so important that you never know what could happen and how else do you keep in touch with your family?”
“Isn’t it the same organisation that demanded implementation of the recommendations of Ranganath Mishra and Sachar Committees, which suggested reservations for Muslims in jobs and education. And now they claim that girls become shameless by using cellphones? If they believe that girls will become shameless using it, what about boys?” asks Salma Firoza Khanam, a PR manager.
Seconds Kirit Kiran, filmmaker, “I would urge the media and people to think how one can resolve this 21st century unnecessary locking of horns,”
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/life3jpg-135