SHILLONG, Jan 16: Experts from Northeast on Monday came together for a programme here to deliberate over ‘Rights of Muslim Women – Reviewing Muslim Personal Law’ with an aim to incorporate viewpoints from diverse sectors and stakeholders from different regions so as to suggest comprehensive changes in the law for the safeguard of the interest of the Muslim Women.
According to a statement, the programme was organised by the National Commission for Women in collaboration with the Department of Law, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), as part of five regional consultations on the subject.
“The programme was marked by brainstorming sessions on various aspects of Muslim Personal Law like marriage, divorce, inheritance, succession, legitimacy, age of marriage, maintenance etc,” the statement said, while adding that there was divided opinion on whether the Muslim Personal Law should be codified, with the majority in favour of it.
During the programme, the role of education and the need to change the perception of the community, especially the conservative patriarchal culture of the society, was also highlighted.
Some of the experts from Meghalaya who were part of the programme include Patricia Mukhim, Rosanna Lyngdoh, Dr. Iamonlang Syiem, Prof. H Askari, Dr. Shariffudin, Zulfi Ali, Jamima Marak, Fatima Nongbri.
From Assam, Dr. Sabrina Iqbal Sircar, Dr. Nazrana Ahmed, Dr. Mujibur Rahman, Dr. Ashma Begum, Yousuf Choudhury and Dr. Anjuman Ara took part in the programme.
While Dr. Mostafa Kamal and Dr. Salim Shah represented Tripura, and Juno Rahman and Ipham Sharmila represented Manipur, including Prof. Zoengpari from Mizoram.
Legal Counsellor, National Commission for Women (NCW), Priya Bhardwaj was also part of the programme.
