Educate women to empower the community, opined Asma Zehra-Member executive committee All India Muslim Personal law Board (AIMPlB) while talking to The Pioneer here on Wednesday.
Zehra said, “Muslims lag behind in education which is largely responsible for most of the problems faced by the community. If women of the community are educated, things would change as women are the axis of Indian families. Muslim women could be empowered through education as one woman can reform the whole family. Moreover, this would help her in protection of her rights and controlling crimes against women.”
Zehra further said a shift in education in Muslim institutions, especially Madarsas could be seen. Madarsas are going through a lot of reforms and integration of education is taking place. Most of the Madarsas have taken up computer education in a big way, she added.
She said that one cannot avoid use of technology like internet, mobile phones or television. An educated woman could only guide her children on how to use technology in a positive manner, she added.
She said women’s freedom is taken in a different context. The building of family and society on strong moral values is vital for community and nation. And as such their empowerment with knowledge and proper guidance is very essential, she added.
Zehra stressed on the need of more interaction between religious heads of different communities. It is the duty of Muslims to initiate, discuss and debate social issues with members of other communities so that co-existence of communities becomes more harmonious. Polarization in society should be discouraged as it serves the purpose of vested interests. She said that such conventions are very helpful to uplift and empower women.
She was in the State capital to address a day-long social reform convention to create awareness among Muslim women to solve family disputes, maintenance, divorce and khula issues, inheritance issues, parents rights and duties, eradication of social evils and customs.