Women can re-enter Haji Ali’s inner sanctum

The Bombay High Court, in all its wisdom, has re-allowed women’s entry into the inner sanctum of Mumbai’s Haji Ali Dargah.

We say re-allowed because up until 2012 that was the normal practice before the Trust decided it should ban women’s entry. Their reason: “(i) women wearing blouses with wide necks bend on the Mazaar, thus showing their breasts; (ii) for the safety and security of women; and (iii) that earlier they were not aware of the provisions of Shariat and had made a mistake and therefore had taken steps to rectify the same”.

We aren’t very surprised at the use of religion to justify sexist practices but reasons (i) and (ii) blew our minds.

We are glad the court gave a sound thrashing to the warped logic that women’s safety can only be ensured by segregating them. Paragraph 37 of the court order says the Trust cannot justify the ban “under the guise of providing security and ensuring safety of women from sexual harassment”. The court stressed that it is the job of the Trust and indeed the state to ensure the safety of women.

The Trust, it seems, though is in mood to listen and will appeal against the order in the Supreme Court. Sigh. What can we say. May Allah give them good sense.