Zuhra stages hunger strike to amend inheritance laws

SLUG- Muslim Personal Law
Kozhikode: NISA founder and rights activist VP Zuhra staged a hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Sunday demanding amendment to the Muslim Law of Inheritance in Muslim Personal Law to ensure justice and equal rights to women. Zuhra began her lone hunger strike at 10am by sitting on bedsheets laid on the ground at Jantar Mantar. She said that the provisions of Muslim Law of Inheritance were discriminatory towards women.
"It is not an issue of Muslim religion or just of an individual, but a human rights issue. Muslim Law of Inheritance does not grant even the right to write a will to grant their hard-earned properties, including house, to loved ones," she said.
She said that as per existing laws, daughters of Muslim parents, who do not have a male heir, aren't entitled to their whole wealth and the property is shared among close male relatives. This she said was highly discriminatory and an injustice.
Zuhra was taken into custody after she stood firm on continuing her indefinite strike even after the time granted by the police till 1 pm elapsed. She was taken to Parliament Street police station and later released.
Union minister of state Suresh Gopi contacted her and assured that he would intervene to get her an appointment to meet the Union minister for women and child development to raise issues. Following this assurance, Zuhra ended her indefinite strike.
NISA has prepared a draft bill reflecting women's views and outlined suggestions that can be made in the law of succession. She plans to submit a copy of the draft to the Union minister whom she will meet on Monday.