New Delhi: A number of Muslim groups on Saturday
backed the Supreme Court`s rejection of the argument that
women cannot be asked to lift face-covering veils for voter ID
photographs, and said Islamic law gives permission for them to
be clicked under special needs.
"I am totally with the Supreme Court order. When we have
no objection to photos for passport for going to Haj, why
should we object to the same for this. This should not be made
an emotional issue," Delhi Minority Commission Chairman and
All India Muslim Personal Law Board member Kamal Faruqui said.
When it was pointed out that some Muslim clerics are
opposing the observation, Faruqui said he will convince the
community about the need for photo voter IDs adding, "I am
sure they will understand the importance of having them."
The Supreme Court yesterday said religious sentiments
should not be exploited to oppose the making of electoral
rolls with photographs. It was hearing a petition which argued
that asking women observing `purdah` to lift their veil for
being photographed for voter IDs would be sacrilegious.
"Though purdah is compulsory for women under the
Shariat, Islamic law gives conditional permission under
special circumstances," senior member of the All India Muslim
Personal law board and Naib Imam of Idgah, Lucknow, Khalid
Rasheed Forangimahal told a news agency.
Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind secretary and spokesperson Abdul
Hamid Nomani also said Islam allows Muslim women to show their
face if there is specific need.
PTI
