World

Indian Muslim allegedly forced to vacate flat because of her religion

Broker asks Quadri if she wears Muslim clothes

Web Desk May 27, 2015

Broker asks Quadri if she wears Muslim clothes. PHOTO: ANI

MUMBAI: A Muslim woman in Mumbai has claimed she was asked to vacate a flat because of her religion.

"I was denied permission to start living in the apartment because I am a Muslim and have Quadri in my name," 25-year old Misbah Quadri said.

A day before Quadri was to meant move in, she was informed by her broker that the housing society did not accept Muslim tenants, the Hindu reported.

Read: We hire only non-Muslims: Indian firm tells job-seeker

"Sometimes brokers did not even show me houses. But this time, I was asked to leave the house within a week because I am a Muslim," Quadri told ANI.

Quadri, left in utter disbelief, promised the broker she would follow any living conditions laid down by him or by that society.

Consequently, the broker demanded for a no-objection certificate (NOC) to be signed by Quadri, stating that if she faced any harassment from the neighbours because of her religion, the builder, the owner or the broker "would not be legally responsible."

Read: Go to Pakistan if you can't live without beef: BJP minister

Agreeing to the demands, Quadri shifted in to the flat; however, her agent contacted her within a week and threatened to call the police and “throw her out” if she did not vacate the apartment immediately.

While addressing the media, Quadri further claimed to have been questioned by another broker if she wore Muslim clothes, leaving her feeling ashamed of calling herself Indian any more.

Quadri has approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) after she was forcefully removed from the apartment.

This article originally appeared on the Hindustan Times

COMMENTS (43)

Azi | 9 years ago | Reply Indian logic: If things are bad at home, tell others your side is worse instead of fixing it. A blueprint for Shuper powor according to Indian expertise.

Ayesha | 9 years ago | Reply As I suspected in my first comment, here is the confirmed news that she was not thrown out because of being a Muslim. In Mumbai's one daily has investigated the story: Mumbai: Was tenant evicted over her religion or due to issues with broker? Even people say that Karachi & Mumbai are identical, but there is lot of difference when it comes to religious tolerance.

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Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply How can Indians justify the recent attack on Muslims in Faridabad, Haryana?

Kashmiri | 9 years ago | Reply I am from Srinagar, Kashmir. Just imagine what I have to go through. Down with india. End disgusting indian rule in Kashmir !!!!

Faceless | 9 years ago | Reply Wait, it must be Pakistan’s fault!

Harris | 9 years ago | Reply And that is why Hindu-stan (Land of Hindus) fail to substantiate the claim of being a secular democracy.

vivek | 9 years ago | Reply @Talha Ahmed.....good one......why state ask for separate country, but few stay back, breed fast and again after 50-60 years ask for separate country.

arun sharma | 9 years ago | Reply Frankly, I would have been surprised if such a news item had not appeared in a pakistani newspaper. However, show it in perspective. India has more muslims than pakistan and an isolated incidence of discrimination is blown out of proportion. In the west, such things happen every minute but nobody complains. Even in pakistan minorities are discriminated but it does not move a single soul in pakistan.

Maxx. | 9 years ago | Reply If there is no hatred, bias, discrimination, bigotry against Muslims in India...there would not be a separate Muslim country called Pakistan...created for the very same reasons. So Indians denying about bias, hatred against Muslims in India is trying to create an eyewash. They are self-contradicting their own statement about the pluralism in the Indian society. Simple as that.

Arshad | 9 years ago | Reply UN Human rights agency must take note of basic freedom in India- Right to live anywhere & everywhere is a fundamental human right. Indians society is denying this right to its Muslim population. To address a similar situation partition of India took place in 1947. The present problem is a remnant of extremist Hindu mind-set. One solution could be another partition with all the Muslims population to be transferred to it. What else ?

JSM | 9 years ago | Reply @Talha Ahmed: Let them ask for a separate state and that ill be the end of Muslims in India. Believe me.

Talha Ahmed | 9 years ago | Reply That is our grandfather struggled for a separate Muslim State. Muslims in India Should struggle for another separate Muslim state. We are living a peaceful life in Pakistan. Evev Hindus live here peacefully

ak | 9 years ago | Reply @android: let em point out logical fallacies in the above said article (which is laughable since you should have seen through it) 1. First of all the study is about "RACE" not religion. India or to an extent even Pakistan has hardly any mix of races so they are not exposed to living with them 2. You do understand its a "survey" not a scientific study and many of the respondents from India might even be Muslims? 3. There is a big disclaimer saying "If we treat this data as indicative of racial tolerance then we can conclude"- How does one correlates this data and maps it to racial tolerance when there is hardly any mix of race in country.Mean it must be done by a juvenile 4. Right survey would have been, talk to Indian and Pakistanis living elsewhere and ask them the same questions 5. Preferring to live with same race doesn't necessarily mean hatred for others.A logical fallacy unanswered by this juvenile survey. For example i would like ti live beside a young beautiful girl, that doesn't mean i have hatred towards men or older women. The only conclusive statement one can make based on this survey is either India is less diverse racially, and if thats not true (Which is not the case) then only India is least tolerant Also go through the qualifiers of the survey.They themselves point out some of the fallacies of the survey.Also how many minorities or racially diverse people Pakistan has (Post Independence and now) I can go on and on, but lets leave at that.Kindly go through the pew research article on religion (Which are more comprehensive if not entirely correct), and puts Pakistan nation with more more govt religious restriction and India as more social restrictions. A nation which has religion as state policy can NEVER EVER be tolerant. India by comparison is free and fair Next time they do a survey, ask them to contact me on how to devise it.It would save them some embarrassment of being juvenile

whatever | 9 years ago | Reply despite being hindu I didn't get flat in a housing society because i was a bachelor and student.

Android | 9 years ago | Reply @Catholic @Minority Sect @ak @achal malhotra @castorby @sandhu Hey Indians claiming that your country is "better" than Pakistan in regards to this... Check out this Washington Post article which conducted a survey and then created a map of the world's least and most tolerant countries Guess which country was the least tolerant one? India Guess which one was most tolerant? Pakistan http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/05/15/a-fascinating-map-of-the-worlds-most-and-least-racially-tolerant-countries/ Have fun Indians :D

NYC | 9 years ago | Reply @minority sect You reek of an Indian. Dont come on Pakistani threads and pretend to be Pakistani. We can tell who's an Indian and who's a Pakistani. Try harder next time.

Raj - USA | 9 years ago | Reply No muslim or non-muslim country anywhere in the world offers so much freedom, equality and security to muslims. Let me explain: Shias cannot take out muharram processions in sunni arab countries, and it is extremely difficult for sunnis to build their mosques in shia countries. Pakistan is the worst. Muharram is a time of extreme fear for shias. Cell phones are blocked, bomb sniffing dogs are deployed and CCTV cameras monitor. Saudi Arabia wants to monitor the number of shias hajj pilgrims and wants shias to specify if they are shia or not in their applications for hajj pilgrimage. In India muslim mosques blare out prayer calls disturbing elderly and sick and depriving them of their rest. No one complains. Try doing this in USA, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Australia etc., and you will be arrested and convicted. None of these countries allow these in their countries. In Pakistan, Rimsha's family were singing their religious songs and playing Dhol. The muslims in the area did not like it and framed her on false blasphemy charges. Rimsha and her entire family had to flee to Canada and seek asylum there. In India a muslim man can have four wives. Try doing this in USA, UK, Canada, Germany, France, etc., and you will be arrested and convicted. In USA muslims when they apply for US citizenship, have to sign a declaration under oath and penalty of perjury that they do not practice polygamy. All muslim applicants do it, gladly or grudgingly. All these western secular democracies have just a fraction of muslim population, both in absolute numbers and in percentage but are worried about muslims and have imposed several restrictions and more and more restrictions like ban on face covering veils are being imposed. India has a muslim population of over 200 million or nearly 20% of its population whereas the muslim population in those western secular democracies is just between 1% and 5% and numeric strength of just about a million to six million. Yet, they are more worried about the muslims in their population and have more restrictions for muslims. On the topic of this news, this lady appears to be a progressive and patriotic muslim and not the trouble making type. It is wrong for the housing society to evict her. I watched her video clip and I trust what she says on being evicted wrongfully for being a muslim.

ak | 9 years ago | Reply At least tell the truth tribune.. What housing society did is ABSOLUTELY correct.No they dint throw her out coz she is Muslim (there are already few Muslim families living there, duh!!) They threw her out coz she was living without permission.PERIOD Not saying there are no such cases in India, I myself was denied home belonging to a Muslim coz i am Hindu. But then you cant stop people from idiots, can you? I guess you would find discrimination everywhere, and legally you cant do anything. Where does "preference" ends and "discrimination" starts.lets say a jain or Hindu doesn't want to give home to a beef eater, thats his/her prerogative and state cant do anything. Alos, such discrimination is among all communities, so please.yesterday only i read in tribune a Hindu was denied a job in Pakistan because of her religion. The difference between India and Pakistan is State doesn't endorse discrimination and remains secular.Minorities are strong and vibrant (Muslim population is more than 15% for gods sake)While Pakistan has Ahmediaya discrimination, religious bias, minorities conversion is much more pervasive and prevalent in Pakistani society (pick up any independent study)

dude | 9 years ago | Reply If I would be at his place I would also do the same the reason being a strictly pure vegetarian my assumption about majority Muslim community in India are straight forward 1) They eat non veg. 2) They don't keep their house and self clean. 3) They have large families. But I have no problem with being friends with them are they are good by nature.

achal malhotra | 9 years ago | Reply forget muslim , there are some societies which only let marwaris, gujaratis, and jains in . Ask me , i am hindu, a punjabi., they didnt gave me flat.

Ayesha | 9 years ago | Reply I have been to India recently. Let me put it this way. This IS a news because it happened in a city like Mumbai where it is very uncommon (if not rare) that someone will not rent out his property to a person just because his or her religion is different. The actual reason behind this denial, in most of the cases, is the assumption that Muslims do not keep their house neat and tidy. Seriously. Though could be another subject of discussion. But let me tell you that this news itself is a healthy sign of a democracy that there is a growing awareness about religious discrimination & people come out in support of victims whereas here in Pakistan these things are so common towards minorities that it never becomes a news & even people take it as normal.

Pukar | 9 years ago | Reply Secular India, Diverse India, Shinning India - India exposed. Buah,ha,ha...

Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply @Kam: you people still believe in "shagun" in 21st century??

Sam | 9 years ago | Reply Anybody staying in India knows that there are building societies in every city & town in India which permit only their community members to buy apartments. In Bandra West, a suburb of Mumbai, there are Christian & Parsi colonies where only their community members may buy. Likewise there are some buildings where only Bohra Muslims or Sikhs or Jains may buy and so on. It is nothing to do with discrimination. That is what Indian secularism is about - if that's how some members of a community want to stay so be it. Would it be OK if a Hindu family forced itself in a Parsi colony or a Christian colony ? Most Pakistanis commenting here or the usual Indian Blog writers who will claim this to be because of Hindutva are clueless about these facts.

pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply @Minority Sect: Well.. Mr Indian in disguise... no we don't. We have Christians renting our places in Islamabad and other parts of the country. Same applies to other religions. I am a estate agent by the way...

Tom | 9 years ago | Reply @Castroby: A housing complex (condominium) can restrict people from buying or leasing any condos in that complex, provided they don't discriminate on the basis of religion, race or gender or sexual orientation. This girl is saying that she was denied the apartment because she is a muslim. But we don't know the truth, it could be her income level, family(# of people) or other things the complex restricts. In the U.S. it can be income, pets, arrest records, creditworthiness, or # of people who will occupy the apartment etc. And I know p'kistan is a place which is very fair in providing housing, and protection for all the minorities. You pakistanis should be ashamed even to talk about minority rights.

Kam | 9 years ago | Reply I dont think her neighbours disliked her they were just afraid of some 'bad shagun' by having a muslim neighbour.

Bewildered | 9 years ago | Reply Not surprised at all. If they cannot tolerate Hindus of lower caste living in their neighborhood, then how dare a Muslim think of living next door. Sooner or later Muslims will be asked to vacate India altogether and move to Pakistan or elsewhere. Or convert to Hinduism if they wish to remain in India. Then would come the time for Christians to move out like the Buddhist were forced out a few centuries ago -- courtesy the most tolerant religion, Hinduism.

Castroby | 9 years ago | Reply India is not perfect but its better than Pakistan. We dont have constitutionally approved apartheid like in Pakistan. Also what the housing society did is wrong, shameful and illegal. At least she has provisions in law where she can take recourse unlike Pakistan where Ahamadiya apartheid is constitutionally approved.

Asok | 9 years ago | Reply We need housing and job discrimination laws, with some teeth, in India.

media not so cool | 9 years ago | Reply Don't go to conclusion too early.Here is the full story.Her four muslim friends are alrady living in that apartment so there is no question of hindu muslim thing.It is money matter broker ask her to pay advance she refused to pay and he show the gates to her.She used her brain and recall someting what was airing just few days before (brick case in delhi) where woman and officer were both guilty but officer loose his job she apply that formula here now she is.But this time police take their lessons from previous case and had orderd and invastigating team to look into the matter.

Jughead | 9 years ago | Reply I do not see where is the problem....She can choose to practice any religion she wants and the owner can choose to rent to whomsoever he/she wants.

Malatesh | 9 years ago | Reply It is with individuals and owners of the house to decide whom he should give his flat.. I'll not rent my flat to any non vegetarian family.. Its my choice..

kickass | 9 years ago | Reply @Sandhu: Only one word comes to mind: sychophant.

kickass | 9 years ago | Reply @Catholic: But you prefer to ignore for fear of Hindu retaliation, about burning of Churches and killing of Christians in Bharat once called India.It is people like you who eat from both ends and let others fight. You should be ashamed.

Minority Sect | 9 years ago | Reply I dont find any thing different . I am also denied houses.We Pakistani also don't rent out to minorities. Any one from different religion or even sect moves in our neighborhood, we get uncomfortable. Is'nt it the case. Be honest ??

Sandhu | 9 years ago | Reply The descrmination is very common ever since world was created. During Moghul rule Hindus were desciminated and Zazia tax was imposed.During British rule Indian were not treated well. In most of the Muslim countries Non Muslims are not treated well.But India is far better for Muslims where descrimination is rare. It may be from some some individual person/society.

KM | 9 years ago | Reply Shining Vibrant Secular India. Sab se parst India.

Catholic | 9 years ago | Reply While I sympathize with Misbah and note that the wheels of justice are grinding in India, I can't help but think of the hundreds of Christians who have been displaced from their homes on blasphemy charges by angry mobs in Pakistan.

Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply First a Muslim boy was denied job and this girl has been denied a house on the basis of religion. The beef ban is also there, Great example of Modi's 'Secular' India.

Liberal | 9 years ago | Reply Even Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar were denied houses because of their religion. It is amusing to see how Indians have the audacity to criticize Pakistan.

Pity | 9 years ago | Reply And Indians were saying something about religious discrimination????

Rakesh | 9 years ago | Reply Very sad to know this. This should not be happening even after 60 years of independence. But I know from my experience that this still 10-20 % cases of such discrimitation. But no matter how big/small this percentage is, it has to be zero for me as an Indian.

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