Mumbai, Aug 21: The Federation of Maharashtra Muslims has expressed deep concern over the increasing incidents of sexual assault across Maharashtra and the country. The forum’s convener, Abdul Mujeeb Sheikh, highlighted the alarming rise in such heinous acts, stating that despite the outrage following the Nirbhaya incident in 2012, the frequency of sexual violence has only multiplied. He remarked that it is a disgrace for any civilized society that, even in this modern and progressive era, women remain unsafe. He further lamented that even little and innocent girls are not spared from this brutality.
In a recent incident, two little girls, aged three and four, were subjected to a horrific act of sexual assault at a school in Badlapur, a town in Thane district near Mumbai. The incident occurred on August 13, but shockingly, an FIR was filed a week later. This delay sparked outrage among parents and the public, leading to protests outside the school and a blockade of the railway track at Badlapur station.
The forum’s co-coordinator, Shakir Sheikh, questioned the delay in filing the FIR and criticized the authorities for only taking action after public anger spilled onto the streets and railway stations. He noted that if the FIR had been filed promptly, the public’s trust in law enforcement would not have been eroded. Shakir Sheikh pointed out that the police often do not act independently, and their reluctance to file FIRs without pressure was even acknowledged by Amba Das Danbe, who stated that the police in Maharashtra and across the country operate under political influence.
Shakir Sheikh expressed hope that the government and relevant authorities will take effective measures to curb these growing incidents and restore a sense of security among women.
The signatories of the statement include Maulana Umrain Mahfooz Rahmani, Secretary of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board; Maulana Hafiz Ilyas Khan Falahi, Ameer-e-Halqa of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind; Maulana Mahmood Ahmed Daryabadi, General Secretary of All India Ulama Council; Abu Asim Azmi, MLA and President of Samajwadi Party Maharashtra; Maulana Hafiz Syed Athar, Islamic scholar and President of Ulama Association Mumbai, Maharashtra; Maulana Haleemullah Qasmi, General Secretary of Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Maharashtra; Fareed Sheikh, President of Aman Committee Mumbai; Abdul Hafeez Patrakar, Jalna; Maulana Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, Vice President of Shia Personal Law Board; Dr. Saeed Ahmed Faizi, General Secretary of Jamiat Ahle Hadees Maharashtra; Maulana Mufti Huzaifa Qasmi, General Secretary of Tanzeem Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Maharashtra; Maulana Agha Rooh Zafar, Imam of Khoja Jamaat Mumbai; Maulana Anees Ashrafi of Raza Foundation Mumbai; Maulana Nizamuddin Fakhruddin, Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Pune; Humayun Sheikh, General Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mumbai; Abdul Mujeeb Sheikh, Convener of Federation of Maharashtra Muslims; and Shakir Sheikh, Co-coordinator of the Federation.
