Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Women’s Wing, Pune launches Campaign for Morality to curb sexual crimes
Pune, 11th September 2024: A month-long nationwide campaign – ‘Morality is Freedom’ was launched by the Women’s Department of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Pune. Addressing a Press Conference at the Patrakar Bhavan, Asiya Shaikh, City Incharge of JIH Women’s Department Pune said, “The objective of this campaign is to raise awareness among people and inform them about what true freedom is and how it is linked to morality.”
Expressing regret over the increasing incidents of sexual violence and homicide targeting women and girls in the country, Shaikh stated, “We wish to clear the misconception in society that freedom is curtailed because of morality. In fact, it is the opposite. When we follow some moral laws and develop our moral character, our women will experience freedom and be confident and safe in public spaces. We feel that the rising cases of sexual violence against women and girls is because of a serious decline in moral values. Recent incidents, such as the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata (West Bengal), the gang rape and murder of a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Gopalpur (Bihar), the rape and brutal murder of a Muslim nurse in Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand), and the sexual assault of two kindergarten girls at a school in Badlapur (Maharashtra), prove that there is a serious need to reflect on the mentality and behavior towards women and girls in our country.”
PR Secretary of JIH Pune Women’s Department Aisha Vaseem stated, “The mindset of violence against women has spread like an epidemic, destroying the moral fabric of our nation. The root cause of this menace is the decline of moral values under the guise of unrestricted freedom. The lack of moral values in society, viewing women as objects, sexual exploitation and abuse, vulgarity, extramarital affairs, and the growing use of alcohol and drugs, all contribute to harassment and exploitation. Additionally, the increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), abortions, sexual violence, and rape, as well as the breakdown of the family unit and the normalization of indecency, are rapidly destroying the moral fabric of society.”
Media Secretary of JIH Pune Women’s Department Meenaz Shaikh said, “The statistics from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) show that crimes against women are increasing year by year. These reports only include the cases that have been reported; who knows how many cases go unreported. How much struggle do women have to go through to get justice? This campaign aims to give the message to the people that true freedom from all such crimes and the different modes of exploitation of women can be achieved only by building a moral and just society where the basic needs and rights for everyone are secured regardless of caste, creed, color, gender, religion, or region.”
जमात-ए-इस्लामी हिंद महिला विभाग पुणेतर्फे लैंगिक गुन्ह्यांना आळा घालण्यासाठी ‘नैतिकता मोहीम’ सुरू
Giving details about the campaign titled ‘Morality is Freedom, Nazima Shaikh stated, “During this campaign, awareness programs will be organized at the national, state, district, and regional levels in collaboration with educators, counselors, lawyers, religious scholars, and community leaders. Special programs will be conducted on campuses to introduce students and youth to true freedom and moral values. To bring common moral values into public discourse, special programs will be organized by involving scholars from different religions.”
The press conference was convened by Swaleha Sherkar, who is in charge of the Kondhwa Unit, JIH Women’s Department Pune.
