Meet Fathima Thahiliya, a Woman Who Wants a Voice for Women in Muslim League
Fathima Thahiliya, former National Vice-President of MSF in Kerela, is leading the movement to grant a voice to women in the Muslim League.
The Muslim women in India face discrimination and oppression on many levels. Although all citizens are entitled to equal rights in the country, women, specifically Muslim women, beg to differ. They are doubly marginalized, first for being a minority and second because of their gender.
Trying to give Muslim women a voice is Fathima Thahiliya, former National Vice-President of Muslim Student Federation (MSF), who was the face and voice of Haritha, the women’s wing of IUML student outfit. It was disbanded last month, and Thahiliya was removed from her post for ‘grave indiscipline’ after the members raised charges of sexual harassment against its male counterparts.
About two months ago, Haritha leaders alleged that during an MSF meeting of office bearers- state president P K Navas, Malappuram district president M Kabeer, and district general secretary V A Wahab made vulgar remarks against them. The women’s wing raised sexual harassment charges for the misconduct, and when the party failed to take action, they filed a formal complaint with the State women’s commission.
Even amidst pressure from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), the women leaders did not withdraw the lodged complaint. This led the Federation to disband Haritha, an expected reaction that often happens when women try to raise their voices against the wrong. The league wanted the members to come to a settlement wherein the accused were allowed to hold the office after issuing an apology on social media. When the state president, Navas, was arrested, the IUML backed him up.
“Our hands and legs are not tied… If the party has become person-oriented in recent years, it should be brought back on the right track… We are ensuring that there is space for women and their voices,” said Fathima.
The IUML retaliated by freezing the committee, triggering protests in MSF campus units, and finally disbanding Haritha. They put together a new committee with members that are loyal to the league. It hinted at the patriarchal mindset that exists in the league where women trying to speak up are called names and labeled. The inclusivity is only in name, and women leaders are suppressed every step of the way. This reality is not limited to politics but also educational institutions, workplaces, communities, etc. The sexism and prejudices are widespread across all spheres.
A lawyer by profession, Fathima was the first state president of Haritha when it was first formed in 2012. It became the voice of the women on campus and has been working towards their welfare ever since. This time too, the committee went on a war with those they considered their allies until some time ago, to stand up for the cause they had started with.
“Those in responsible roles in IUML were spreading canards and indulging in character assassination. When the party said you should shut your mouth, we reacted openly. That helped society realize what has been going on,” said Thahiliya as reported by The Indian Express.
They were not questioning leadership, rather only wanted the league to become more gender-neutral and create spaces for women. A feud like this inside the party where the women leaders are treated poorly might make the public rethink the leadership, especially the women.
The women’s wing might have been disbanded, but the cause and values it upheld aren’t lost. It’s the cause that matters, and even without the committee, Fathima has no plans of backing down. She will continue to fight for justice and what’s right. A mere dissolution of a committee is not enough to lower down her morale.
Bringing a ray of hope for the women in the league, she said, “I am going to form a collective of like-minded women within the Indian Union Muslim League to fight as a corrective force within the party as well as the community. The name will be announced soon.”
Fathima has always been working actively for women’s welfare. Even in 2013, when the issue of underage marriages was in debate, she strongly opposed the practice. It is because of people like Fathima that the country is progressing and taking women’s welfare and authority into consideration.
Another such brave women’s rights activist is Loujain-Al-Hatoul, from Saudi Arabia. Read this blog to know all about her. You can also check out our other blogs on the website.
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Image credits: Google