Latest news with #GauRakshaks
The Print
06-08-2025
- The Print
Is Hyderabad progressive? Muslim men moral policing Muslim women is routine
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)
Hans India
02-06-2025
- Hans India
Despite warnings, self-styled vigilantes continue to intercept vehicles carrying livestock
Hyderabad: With Bakrid just a week away and the livestock transportation to the city increasing, the cow protection association teams continued to stop vehicles carrying the sacrificial animals, despite police warnings. In the last couple of days, the cattle traders confronted cow vigilante teams in at least three city suburbs. The teams stopped cattle traders at Ramachandrapuram in Sangareddy, Shadnagar, and Ibrahimpatnam in Ranga Reddy district. In Telangana, slaughter of cows and calves are banned, but bulls and bullocks can be slaughtered if a fit-for-slaughter certificate is issued. A trader, on anonymity, said that even vehicles carrying bulls and buffaloes are being stopped illegally by 'Gau Rakshaks'. 'We face this problem every day now, as it has been getting worse from the last three to four years. It flares up during Bakrid particularly, because they know that more trucks with animals will be coming in. Ultimately, we suffer huge losses which we can't recover from,' he explained. On information of the clashes, AIMIM MLC Mirza Rahmath Baig intervened and booked the cases against the groups at the police stations. 'After receiving complaints that Gau Rakshaks stopped vehicles and attacked cattle traders, AIMIM reached the spot and filed police complaints. Cases are being registered against them at respective police stations,' said Mirza Rahmath Baig. The city police are maintaining a high vigil ahead of Bakrid on June 7. The police warned the gau rakshak members not to take the law into their own hands. The activists were asked to pass on any information to the officers and a quick response was assured. The Police department already made all the arrangements to ensure that no prohibited animal is transported inside the city by setting up check-posts at all the major junctions which connect highways. Another trader said, 'The police set up check-posts in all the zones of the city, especially the south zone, to avert any possible trouble during Eid. However, despite several warnings by the police, the harassment continues by the cow protection teams.' Earlier, on several occasions, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner CV Anand appealed to the public and Gau Rakshak members not to take the law into their own hands, emphasising that only government officials and law enforcement agencies are authorised to stop or inspect vehicles carrying animals.
