ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) stands in full solidarity with Rayana R Khasi, from Kasaragod District, Kerala who has been lately receiving life threatening calls from fundamentalist organization Popular Front of India for not wearing Veil. We condemn in unequivocal voice all such fanatic, anti-constitutional and anti women attempts of issuing diktats.
It is a matter of grave concern that communal and fundamentalist forces are raising their heads in once a tolerant and progressive society of Kerala. There has been categorical escalation of fundamentalist and identity-based politics during the past two decades and unfortunately it has gone almost unchallenged. The politics deeply rooted in communal-hate politics and patriarchy must be countered strongly.
Victimization of Rayana R. Khasi has been going on for the last one year, yet no serious note was taken by the authorities to uphold her democratic rights. We are sure Rayana is not the only girl receiving threats for not following their diktats but she is one strong and vigilant individual who decided to stand by what she believes in and not to let any fundamentalist forces to take her freedom of expression lightly. Being a citizen of a democratic country she has all the freedoms including what she wants to wear, how she wants to live, what she believes in.
ANHAD demands from Kerala government to provide her full security because any harm to her would be considered as an assault on secular and egalitarian ethos of Indian constitution.
Anhad
23, Canning Lane, New Delhi 110001
Tel 23070740/ 22
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