Is Hyderabad progressive? Muslim men moral policing Muslim women is routine

The Print

6 days ago

One woman described how after moral policing her for being out with a male colleague, the harasser demanded her father's number. 'I did not know what to do and just went home and cried my heart out,' she said.
Raheel couldn't fathom that a young Muslim woman might hang out with a man from another religion. Within hours of my report on his arrest being published, I received several messages from Muslim women sharing similar experiences with men from Hyderabad's Old City.
Hyderabad isn't exactly a highly progressive city, but last week's moral policing incident involving a 24-year-old Muslim man from the Old City was shocking for several reasons. The perpetrator, Mohammed Raheel, not only publicly harassed a Muslim woman and her Hindu male colleague, but also filmed the incident and shared it on social media.
None of these women filed a police complaint, fearing their families would impose further restrictions on their movement. As much as I hesitate to stereotype an entire area, it seems there is a problem with the prevailing mindset in the Old City.
This is part of a growing right-wing trend. As India sees a rise in incidents involving Hindutva groups — from the hijab controversy to violence by so-called Gau Rakshaks (cow protectors) — it seems that some men from the minority community are internalising similar ideas and now believe they have the right to control Muslim women.
Perhaps Hyderabad's image as a friendly, mildly progressive city is a sham after all. And perhaps the moral policing of Muslim women by men from their own community is also a reflection of a deeper anxiety within the community — a response to the growing sense of vulnerability amid rising attacks on minorities by Hindutva groups.
Also read: Just hailing Ahoo Daryaei a 'hero' doesn't help. We must come together against moral policing
Adding to Muslim women's misery
In a religious country like India, people often feel emboldened to take matters into their own hands.
Muslim women already face several issues at home due to patriarchy and misogyny — much like women in many conservative households. Incidents like the one in Old City, if not taken care of, will only make their lives harder. I personally know of young women who have been forced to quit their jobs due to travel safety concerns.
Men like Raheel must be dealt with strictly. Yet, more often than not, they get away with harassing women, which only reinforces their sense of entitlement. The belief that they have a say in what Muslim women should or shouldn't do is abhorrent and dangerous. It's needs to be dismantled completely.
Our society is full of men like him. Not long ago, an Instagram page was targeting young Muslim women, especially those wearing the hijab, simply for being out with friends. There are even organisations in Hyderabad that run so-called 'awareness programmes' that seek to prevent inter-faith friendships and relationships.
It's natural for people to look beyond religion in their friendships, But some can't seem to digest that. Still, the answer to bigotry and hate cannot be bigotry and hate. Nor can it be violence. That path will only further damage the image of the Muslim community, which has already been distorted by a decade of relentless right-wing propaganda.
Just imagine what it's like to have your image or video shared online by your harasser, and then watch others pile on with abusive comments, criticising you instead of him. Hopefully, better sense will prevail. And if anyone faces something like this, they must report it. The police should act swiftly and arrest those who engage in moral policing. There is no space, and no excuse, for such behaviour.
Yunus Lasania is a Hyderabad-based journalist whose work primarily focuses on politics, history, and culture. He tweets @YunusLasania. Views are personal.
(Edited by Prashant)