By Anwarulhaq Baig
NEW DELHI: After the heinous rape and murder of trainee doctors in a reputed medical college in Kolkata and a Muslim nurse in Uttarakhand,the Women’s Wing of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) has announced a month-long nationwide public campaign to create awareness about crime against women.
Titled “Morality is Freedom,” the campaign will be launched in September to sensitize the public to the rising incidents of sexual violence and homicide targeting women and girls in the country.
JIH National Secretary Mrs. Shaista Rafat, speaking at a press conference held at the organization’s headquarters in New Delhi on Tuesday, stated, “Social inequality, neglect of security, and discrimination against women in our society have further complicated this issue.” She emphasized that the campaign aims to create awareness about the nature of true freedom and its connection to morality, asserting that “only by following moral values can one attain real and lasting freedom and fulfilment in life.”
Mrs. Rafat explained that the campaign’s goals include ensuring that everyone has the freedom to fulfill their basic needs and access fundamental rights, regardless of caste, colour, gender, religion, or region. This, she stated, can only be achieved by following moral values. The campaign will involve educationists, counsellors, lawyers, religious scholars, and community leaders at national, state, district, and grassroots levels. Special programs will be organized on campuses to educate students and youth about the importance of moral values for achieving lasting joy and freedom. Additionally, there will be programmes featuring scholars from various religions to discuss common moral values shared across different faiths and cultures.
The campaign seeks to ensure fundamental rights and freedoms for all, regardless of caste, colour, gender, religion, or region. Mrs. Rafat explained, “We believe this can only be achieved by adhering to certain rules, which we call moral values.”
In response to questions about the campaign’s outreach and target audience, Mrs. Rahamathunnissa, another JIH National Secretary, clarified that the initiative will engage all communities—Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, and others—across religions, region, caste, and gender. They will also involve non-Muslim NGOs, organizations, and religious leaders to broaden the campaign’s impact.
Mrs. Rafat further noted that the campaign will extend to educational institutions, religious places, and other venues without discrimination. The aim is to address the root causes of sexual violence rather than relying on superficial measures.
Responding to a question about the second phase of the ‘Me Too’ campaign, particularly in the Malayalam film industry, Mrs. Rahamathunnissa, who is from Kerala, noted that many women are sharing their bitter experiences publicly. She suggested that if male celebrities truly oppose such incidents, they should speak out publicly.
Mrs. Rahamathunnissa highlighted that the root causes of these issues include the capitalist ideology that commodifies women’s bodies for entertainment. She argued that condemning and suspending a few individuals is not enough. Instead, thorough analysis, debate, and discussion at all levels, from the parliament to local communities, are needed to address the root causes and find long-lasting solutions.
Regarding the effectiveness and expected outcomes of the one-month campaign, Mrs. Shaista Rafat said the goal is to draw national attention to the root causes of crimes against women. Mrs. Rahamathunnissa added, by the end of September, they hope to achieve two outcomes: 1) raise awareness among all citizens about the problem and 2) highlight the real causes behind it. She likened the situation to applying an ointment to a wound without addressing its underlying cause, stressing the need for a societal detoxification. The campaign will also lead to some long-term programs and projects.
Mrs. Rahamathunnissa mentioned that grassroots-level training has begun for their cadres, including writers, trainers, and speakers, who will be deployed to spread the campaign’s message.
On the issue of celebrating and garlanding rapists or rape accused, Mrs. Rahamathunnissa emphasized that the government, legislators, and law enforcement agencies must be more responsible and sensitive towards women, moving beyond communal and caste-based biases.
Mrs. Rafat added that celebrating such individuals is contrary to national values and aspirations, and those engaging in such acts should reconsider their mindsets.
Regarding the current modest dress controversy, Mrs. Rahamathunnissa stated that while modesty in dressing is one aspect, it is not the whole solution to sexual violence. She noted that even young children are targeted, and issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, and pornography, also contribute to the problem. Using an analogy, she explained that wearing a helmet while driving is important, but proper training and adherence to traffic rules are also necessary. In the same way, Islam suggests modest dress and wearing a Hijab in public outside for safeguarding. But, modest dress is just one solution, and addressing the root causes and changing social attitudes towards women are crucial, she added.
To ensure justice and punishment for crimes against women are swift and effective, Mrs. Rafat suggested that the government, civil society, and media should work together to ensure instant justice for victims. She emphasized that delays in court proceedings create hurdles and that swift trials are essential for providing justice.
Changing mindset needed to end crimes against women: Mrs Rahmathunnissan
Mrs. Rahamathunnissa stressed the need for a public awareness campaign to address the mindset and attitudes toward women. She cited recent incidents, such as the rape and murder of a medical doctor in Kolkata, the gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl in Bihar, the rape and murder of a Muslim nurse in Uttarakhand, and the sexual assault of kindergarten girls in Maharashtra, as evidence that attitudes towards women and girls require serious introspection.
She expressed deep concern over the rising number of sexual assaults, violence, and homicides against women and girls in India, pointing out that ingrained social inequalities, misogyny, and discrimination complicate matters, especially for marginalized groups. She cited the Hema committee report from Kerala, which reveals safety issues for women even in liberal workplaces like the entertainment industry.
According to Mrs. Rahamathunnissa, data from the National Crimes Records Bureau (NCRB) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) show a yearly increase in crimes against women. However, these figures only represent reported cases, while many more go unreported.
She also mentioned Bilkis Bano’s case, which exemplifies systemic bias and institutional insensitivity. The recent ADR report reveals that 151 sitting legislators face charges related to crimes against women, highlighting the troubling complicity of politicians in such acts.
Strongly believing that these atrocities against women are merely symptoms of a widespread issue affecting the peace and progress of the nation, the JIH National Secretary asserts that the root cause of this menace is the decline of moral values. She says, “the lack of moral values in society leads to problems such as the objectification of women, sexual exploitation and abuse, widespread consumption of pornography, extramarital affairs, infidelity, increased use of alcohol and drugs, suicides, a rise in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), an increase in abortions, sexual violence and rape, the sexualization of culture, the breakdown of the family unit, and the normalization of immorality, which is rapidly eroding the moral fabric of society.”
Moreover, she added that the growing influence of communal and caste-based politics, driven by the desire to subjugate and dominate certain communities and castes, is worsening the situation. “Criminals and accused individuals are increasingly being portrayed as heroes, with their crimes not only excused but also celebrated,” she added.
Stressing the need to raise awareness against communal and caste hatred, Mrs. Rahamathunnissa pointed out that society must recognize these acts as deeply immoral and unethical, deserving strong condemnation rather than celebration. She highlighted that our youth is experiencing chaos, loneliness, frustration, and stress, which impacts their productivity and progress. She stated that alarmingly, behaviours once considered immoral and unethical are now becoming socially acceptable while actions that were previously hidden from the public eye are now conducted openly with no shame or guilt. She also noted that laws favouring immoral activities are contributing to their rapid spread in society. She concluded by emphasizing the need to combat communal and caste hatred and address the decline in moral values to effect meaningful societal change.
During the press conference, two books were released: “Morality is Freedom” by Mrs. Rahamathunnissa A, published by the JIH Women’s Department, and “Graceful Strength: Islamic Morality for Women” by Dr. Shadab Munawar Moosa, published by The Board of Islamic Publications. The campaign logo was also unveiled. The press conference was moderated by Ms. Rabia Basri, JIH Assistant Secretary.
