Noting that she had not committed any mistakes till now, Raihana R Khazi, an aeronautical engineering graduate from Kasargod, who was in the eye of a storm for openly refusing to wear purdah, today said a person has freedom to wear any dress material acceptable to the society.
Expressing serious concern over the anonymous murder threatening letters, Raihana told mediapersons it is very said such a thing is happening in a literate state like Kerala.
Raihana said initially it was her relatives who had objected her not wearing the purdah, a customary dress normally worn by the Muslim women while moving out in public places.
The 22-year old Raihana said that rumours were spread that she had married to one Jose and had converted to christian religion.
‘I am a true Muslim girl and believe in Islam religion. I do prayers daily. I have not committed any mistakes till now’, she said.
One of the letter had warned that she would be done to death by August 26 after she refused to wear purdah.
Raihana said she had approached the Kerala high court and she was provided with police protection.
Raihana said many of her friends from first standard to 12th standard had expressed their support. They are not openly coming out against wearing purdah because of fear, she said.
Coming to Raihanas support, All India Lawyers Union’s Kerala Unit had recently said a person has full freedom to wear any dress material acceptable to the society and anyone enforcing dress code on caste and religious consideration should be isolated.
Raihana said after returning to Kerala from Chennai on completion of her course in august last, some of her relatives had insisted that she should wear purdah and veil.
Dr C S Chithra, writer and a well-known social worker, said it was unfortunate to note that a young Muslim girl, who opted to wear dress of her choice had to seek the intervention of the Kerala high court for police protection after she had received threat letters which ‘is a shame and a dangerous trend’.
All those who believe in democracy and the Muslim community should come forward to protect the civic and democratic rights of Raihana, she said.
It was unfortunate that the state government had not taken seriously the complaints of Raihana, she said.
Chithra also called upon the social and cultural leaders to react against these kind of tendencies to enforce dress code on caste and religious consideration.
Dr Khadeeja Mumtaz, Associate Professor Kozhikode Medical College, Dr N P Hafiz Muhammed, writer and social worker and Raihana’s mother were also present.