Fighting against the burqa

Kudos to Rayana Khazi, a young girl in Kasargode district in Kerala who is ploughing a lonely furrow against the Muslim religious fundamentalists over wearing the burqa which she does not like to wear as she is seeing nothing wrong or obscene in a salwar-kameez. She mustered courage to defy the diktats of some Muslim religious bigots who threatened to kill her if she does not start wearing burqa.

burkha 280 1046181a PQiDO 16298

'It is better to live fearlessly for an hour than to serve such people for a 100 years', the 22-year old girl retorted to the threats she received from these religious extremists.

Rayana was studying aeronautical engineering in Tamil Nadu. Her problems began after she returned to her parent's home in Bevinja in Kasargode district, Kerala, nine months ago. She resisted suggestions by relatives and friends to wear the burqa. Her defiance led to threats from fundamentalists.

Read the words in an anonymous letter (written in Malayalam) that Rayana received on September 16. 'You can decide whether you want to live or die. We, the soldiers of Islam gave you time till now. No more forgiveness for you. It will be done before this 26th...a kafir like you doesn't deserve to be pardoned'. It is the latest in a series of death threats that she has been receiving ever since she refused to wear a burqa.

But the young courageous girl refused to the diktats of these goons. As the harassment continued, she approached the state women's commission for help but it was in vain. Things actually got worse. Her family moved out to live in the town but that didn't change anything: the threats only increased.

Then she complained to the police, but nothing was done. Kargoli, the man who sent the letters, continues to walk freely in the streets. She then approached the high court which ordered that she should be provided protection. Following that, two policemen were deputed for her security.