Thrivanthapuram, August 16: The Kerala High Court has asked police to protect a Muslim woman, an engineering graduate, who complained that she was facing threats for wearing modern dress and abandoning burqa or headscarf.
In her petition, Rayana R Kazi has named one Muhammed Kavugoli as the respondent, a man who claims to be an activist of the Popular Front of India (PFI).
The front, considered a fanatic Muslim body, is accused in the case of chopping off the hand of a Catholic teacher last month.
Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan has accused the PFI of attempting to turn Kerala into a “Muslim state” in the next 20 years.
A division bench of Justices K M Joseph and M L Joseph Francis on Aug. 12 asked Kavugoli to appear before the court on August 18.
The court has also directed to police to provide protection to Rayana.
Rayana, who belongs to Muslim-stronghold Kasargod district, says she has been under pressure from orthodox Muslims in her community to wear a headscarf and observe purdah since June 2009, when she returned from Chennai after completing an engineering course.
Two weeks ago, she got a letter, allegedly from Kavugoli, which accused her of insulting Islam and warned her of dire consequences, indianexpress.com reported.
“Seeing me in jeans and shirt, the local people of my community had unleashed a campaign that I had abandoned Islam. I strongly believe that I have the freedom to wear any dress of my choice,” said Rayana.
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