Elina Khan speaks to DOT :
Hefazat-e-Islam chief Shah Ahmad Shafi has promise to refrain girls from studying at schools and colleges, only letting them to pursue education up to class X. But Hadith says it is mandatory for every man and woman to acquire knowledge.
Hadith also suggests travelling far way to gain knowledge. There is Islamic ruling that says higher education is only for men. The very first verse of the Holy Quran also mentions a term “Iqra” which means read.
Amid such an Islamic stance supporting education for females, how can the Islamic hardliner group’s chief say female education will be limited to just fifth grade? If I want to exercise religion well, I feel female education is also a mandatory issue. Women play the role of a teacher both at and outside home. Women are teachers.
If they remain uneducated, how would they impart education—be it religious or general– to others? A mother must have proper knowledge over religion if she wants to teach her children something religious. The matter also applies for me as well. However, studying up to class X cannot leave a girl educated over the subject.
We are to blame for the situation. We try promoting such a people (like the Hefezat fellows) during every election, causing us now to listen to such a matter. When Islam allows education for all, making such a call is meant for making the women lag behind, something equivalent to torture to them.
Elina Khan is Chief Executive of Bangladesh Human Rights Foundation
Interviewed by Fahim Bijoy, translated by Sayeed Muhammad
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