'Women can't be marriage registrars': 21 eminent citizens express disappointment in HC verdict

Twenty-one eminent citizens of the country have expressed their disappointment over the High Court's verdict that said women cannot become Nikah (Muslim marriage) registrars due to certain "physical conditions" and social as well as practical situations of the country.

"Recently, the High Court gave a verdict where it said women cannot be Muslim marriage registrars. This verdict has shocked and offended us," a statement signed by the 21 said today.

It said that women carry out all kinds of work during menstruation and that in Islam it wasn't obligatory to perform marriage ceremonies at mosques.

Most of the marriages in Bangladesh are performed at homes, wedding venues or Kazi offices, the statement added.

It also said that a woman naturally menstruates once a month at a certain time, which is a biological process that takes place according to the laws of nature. If women's menstruation stops, man will not be born and the human race will be wiped out, it said.

 "We, therefore, request the High Court to reconsider this judgment and give its verdict on the basis of equal rights for men and women as enshrined in the Constitution," the statement further said.

The 21 signatories are Abdul Gaffar Chowdhury, Hasan Azizul Haque, Anupam Sen, Shamsuzzaman Khan, Ferdousi Majumdar, Sarwar Ali, Abdus Selim, Selina Hossain, Mamunur Rashid, Mofidul Hoque, Muntasir Mamun, Shafi Ahmed, Shahriar Kabir, Nasiruddin Yousuff, Sara Zaker, Lucky Enam, Golam Kuddus, Shimul Yousuf , Hasan Arif, Akamullah.

Yesterday, the HC bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Kazi Zinat Hoque observed that: "It has to be borne in mind that due to certain physical conditions a lady cannot enter the mosque during a certain time of the month. She is even excused from performing the mandatory daily prayers during this particular time. This disqualification does not allow her to conduct the religious task. We are mindful of the fact that Muslim marriage is a religious ceremony and has to be guided by the terms and dictates of Islam."

The judges came up with the observation in a full text of a verdict which was released after they signed it recently.