Muslim scholars slam beheadings of J&K women

MUMBAI: Human rights activists and the Muslim intelligentsia have condemned the beheading of two women by terrorists in J&K''s Rajouri district for not following their diktat on a dress code.
"It is utterly shocking that some terrorists from across the border allegedly belonging to Laskar-e-Jabbar beheaded the young girls just because they were not wearing the dress prescribed by Islam," said Bohra reformist Asghar Ali Engineer.
Mr Engineer clarified that the Koran does not prescribe covering of the face. "It only recommends wearing a dignified dress to protect women from being objects of sexual lust," he said.
"The dress is, more often than not, culturally determined. Muslim women in the sub-continent wear what has been the cultural norm here. The Koran does not even say that any form of dress is obligatory and Koranic verses about display of adornment are recommendatory in nature and prescribe no punishment."
Calling the beheading of the girls an act of political desperation by people who cannot accept the peace process in the Valley, Mr Engineer said, "No words are strong enough to condemn this act of barbarism. All right thinking people should oppose it tooth and nail."
Mr Engineer noted that the Koran says to kill one human being unjustly is like killing all humanity. The killings were unIslamic, he said. He said that the people of Kashmir are fed up with extremist violence and they want the peace process to continue.
Mr Engineer added, "Such acts of barbarism shows the utter failure of the government or shows they have vested interests for political gains."
Other prominent Muslims also expressed shock at the brutality. Noted scholar Rafique Zakaria said such acts have to be severely condemned by all."Enforcing Islamic laws against anyone''s will is not permitted," he said. "Basically the terrorists are against women''s education."
Abraham Mathai a member of the state minorities commission added that each member of civil society should condemn the savage act. "The terrorists cannot enforce any kind of dress code and instil fear in minds of women and children," he said.
Naser Jamal president of the Samajwadi Yuvjan Sabha said, "It is against Islam to force people into doing something. Such terrorists cannot call themselves Muslim after committing such a heinous act."