In a demonstration against a proposal aimed at guaranteeing equal rights for women in a predominantly Muslim country, thousands of frustrated Muslim men took to the streets in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.
One of the protesters, Mohammad Sihab Uddin, 53, who leads female madrasas in religious schools, stated, “Men and women can never be equal. The Quran outlines specific norms of life for both genders.” He added, “There’s no way to go beyond that.”
According to reports, leaders of the Hefazat-e-Islam group argued that the proposed legal changes were not only contradictory to maintaining various freedoms for women but also an affront to Sharia law and Islam.
More than 20,000 supporters of the group assembled near Dhaka University, holding banners that proclaimed, “Say no to Western laws for our women and stand up in Bangladesh.”
The protesters warned of organizing additional rallies throughout the country on May 23 if their demands are not addressed. Reports indicate that group leader Mamnuru Hak called for the disbanding of the interim government reform committee and for its members to be punished for their proposed changes.
Hak expressed that categorizing religious succession laws as a primary factor in gender inequality deeply offended “the feelings of the majority of people in this country.”
Additionally, the demonstrators opposed various proposals, including equal inheritance rights for women, banning polygamy, and recognizing sex workers as workers.
The protesters also sought to limit activities they deem “anti-Islamic,” encompassing music, theater festivals, women’s football games, and public celebrations of joy.
Islam is the predominant religion in Bangladesh, where approximately 91.04% of the roughly 150 million residents identify as Muslims, making it the third largest Muslim nation globally, after Indonesia and Pakistan.
