Women's Affairs Reform Commission's recommendations are a planned attack on Islam, Muslim identity: Golam Parwar

The recommendations of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission are a well-planned attack on the existence of Islam and the Muslim identity, being directly contradictory to the Holy Quran, Jamaat-e-Islami Secretary General Mia Golam Parwar said today (20 April). 

In a statement, he said a deep conspiracy was underway to destroy the religious balance, family structure and social stability of the country through the proposals the commission made yesterday.

He demanded the immediate cancellation of the "unacceptable and controversial" recommendations on women's issues.

He further said the report – submitted to the chief adviser by commission members led by its head Shirin Parveen Haque –  was not in line with the religious beliefs of Islam and Muslims. 

Pointing out an instance, he said, "It is demanded that the Muslim inheritance law be repealed and property be equally distributed to men and women. We believe that the [existing] law prevailing in Bangladesh is basically written as per the inheritance law prescribed by the Almighty. To repeal it means to take a stand directly against the Quran." 

He said this was not only an insult to the Sharia, but a blow to the core of the Muslim identity. 

Parwar further claimed there were recommendations given which would encourage adultery and discourage marriage, adding in Islam adultery was a great and heinous crime.

"We believe that such proposals will create extreme instability in the society. Those who are stirring up a disastrous conspiracy to destabilise the society and those who are playing tricks with the Muslim family and inheritance law must be exposed before the nation very soon."

Mentioning recommendations on Page-9 of the commission report, he said a proposal had been given to formulate a common law for all religions. 

"If implemented, Muslims, Hindus, Christians, Buddhists will all be separated from religious family laws and forced to come to a secular structure. This is a gross violation of religious freedom," the statement reads. 

On the mention of implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) Charter of the United Nations, the Jamaat leader said it was also anti-Islamic a it saw marriage as only a social contract, opposing Islamic Nikkah and guardianship.

On the recommendations calling for recognising both genders equally, Parwar said Islamic scholars did believe both to be equal, while recognising natural differences.

"Therefore, the proposal to 'view the family roles of men and women equally' is nothing but an attempt to distort the Islamic social system."

He called upon the interim government to take these issues into consideration and respect the religious sentiments of the people. 

"Immediately declare these unacceptable and controversial recommendations null and void while upholding the religious provisions of citizens of all religions of the country," the statement urged the government. 

Earlier today, Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, too, demanded the abolition of the Women's Affairs Reform Commission.

They also said the recommendations contain "objectionable" references to religious laws, particularly Islamic inheritance and family laws, labelling them as sources of discrimination against women.