Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah ordered to lift ban on women

MUMBAI: A centuries-old Islamic mausoleum was Friday ordered to allow women to enter its inner sanctum, with an Indian court saying a ban violated their constitutional rights.

The Haji Ali Dargah trust has barred women from the landmark mausoleum off the coast of Mumbai since 2012, insisting women near the tomb of a revered saint is "a grievous sin" in Islam.



"Women can enter the inner sanctum of Haji Ali Dargah and the state government has to ensure their security and safety," said Justice VM Kanade of the Bombay High Court, giving the verdict.

It comes amid an intensifying campaign by women in India to be allowed to enter Hindu temples, some of which also ban females from their inner sanctum.

Hundreds of women staged a march to the Shani temple in Maharashtra state in January in protest, leading the high court in Mumbai to later strike down the shrine's ban.

"The verdict is a landmark win for women everywhere fighting for their rights. The high court verdict has ensured gender equality and equal rights for women at places of worship," women's activist Trupti Desai told AFP of Friday's ruling.

Female activists will enter the mausoleum on August 28 to offer prayers, she said. A six-week interim period has been granted by the Bombay High Court during which the trust can appeal against the verdict in the Supreme Court.

Will the Muslim women in India find protection in the courts?

The decision was supported by most people
https://twitter.com/virenderswag/status/769099611441102849

#HajiAli congrats women for this victory! It's sad that in today's time too you have to fight for your basic rights! 🙌

— N (@almost_phamouz) August 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/769072214587142144

Bombay HC has done the right things. Times have changed, awareness & interpretation of religion is not limited to a select few. #Hajiali

— Shuja ul haq (@ShujaUH) August 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/AsYouNotWish/status/769076826295701505

However, there were some who opposed it

courts are crossing redline, the court must not pronounce the verdict on popular religious beliefs#HajiAli

— दुष्यंत (@dushyantjbp) August 26, 2016

Courts should concern more on injustice and cruelty which is creeping on nation rather then entry and exits verdict #HajiAli

— Ahmed Siyar (@ahmedsiyar) August 26, 2016

https://twitter.com/popademayur/status/769082769146253312

Around 80 per cent of India's 1.2 billion population is Hindu, but the country is also home to large numbers of Muslims, Christians and Buddhists.