BURQA-REAX 2 LAST

"What will be the relevance of a photo I-card with burqa.
This is not a general situation in which purdah is essential.
Some people mix up the special situations with the general
ones. Religion gives permission for it in need. This should
not be projected as a religious issue," Nomani said.
Jamaat-e-Islami secretary Mujtaba Farooqi said, "I think
what the Supreme Court said is correct. Documents of the
country's citizens should be prepared and the provision of
photos should be there for making of such basic documents."
Farooqi maintained that even those who support purdah
relax it for such necessary documents and Muslim seminaries
have issued fatwa that photos of Muslim women can be taken if
they are "need-based".
Shahi Imam of Fatehpuri Masjid Mufti Mukarram Ahmed said
he does not find anything wrong with the SC observation.
"There is nothing wrong in what the SC said. Shariyat,
though, makes purdah essential for Muslim women, it permits
showing their face if there is any need or compulsion. If a
woman is seriously ill, she can not observe purdah from her
doctor. Getting photographed for election I-card or any such
necessary documents is permitted," he said.
Citing the case of Haj, Firangimahali said in Lucknow
that women do get themselves clicked for their passports and
getting photographed for ensuring that they get their right to
vote also falls in the same category of special circumstances.
He, however, had reservations over reported stern views
of the apex court that "if religious sentiments are so strong
then do not go to vote". Comments on religious issues should
be in keeping with the sensitivity of the matter, he said. PTI