Hyderabad activists condemn ‘malicious’ ANI interview on child marriages in Old City

Hyderabad: On Wednesday, a group of 33 Hyderabad-based activists expressed strong condemnation of a recent interview by ANI News, which discussed alleged ongoing child marriages of Muslim girls from Hyderabad’s Old City to older men from Gulf countries.

What was the interview that triggered the controversy?

The interview, featuring Urdu poet and activist Jameela Nishat, was recorded on May 1, 2024, and aired on June 29, 2024.

In the interview, Nishat claimed that the practice of marrying minor girls from the Old City to older men from the Gulf had been prevalent since the 1970s. She recounted cases of girls being married multiple times, including one instance where a girl reportedly had 17 marriages between the ages of 13 and 17.

Nishat stated, “One of the girls, she was 22 and she came here and she wrote a letter to her mother saying ‘Aap ko 17th damad, Mubarak (which translates to 17th son-in-law for you).’”

Joint statement by activists

The activists issued a joint statement denouncing the interview as “mischievous, malicious, and unfounded in facts or institutional reports.”

They called for ANI to withdraw the report, arguing that child marriages in Hyderabad had significantly decreased due to efforts by activists and authorities.

“You must be fully aware that the responsible authorities of the day also undertook suitable action to discourage and ban such marriages. It would be safe to say that such illegal marriages have been thoroughly regulated and no such cases have been reported in Hyderabad over the last few years,” the statement read.

Concerns over stereotyping

The activists expressed concern that the interview could feed into ongoing right-wing narratives and contribute to Islamophobia. They questioned Nishat’s motives, stating, “We hope you have thought through the implications of these objectionable claims. Are you aware of the implications due to these false claims?”

The statement also posed direct questions to Nishat, challenging the accuracy and relevance of her claims. “Jameela Nishat, we would like to know what is the significance of repeating twenty years old cases and what would your community gain out of these old narratives in front of media in these contentious times?”

Speaking to NewsMeter, Social activist S. Q. Masood said “Jameela Nishat’s statement that the flesh of adolescent girls makes the foundation of many big houses in Baba Nagar, Shaheen Nagar and Barkas in Old Hyderabad is highly condemnable, baseless and damaging. Such allegations have adverse effects on the community, making it difficult for Muslim boys and girls to secure jobs and educational opportunities in new city, and adversely affects even their marriage prospects”

Efforts of activists and authorities

The activists highlighted their own efforts in addressing the issue of child marriages and emphasised that the practice had been curbed due to substantial publicity, reporting, and dedicated work on the ground.

They mentioned cases where legal actions were taken against those involved in such marriages, citing the example of a girl referred to as ‘X’ whose marriages were legally followed through by activists.

Positive developments in the community

The statement drew attention to the positive changes within the community, mentioning individuals like Syeda Falak, a national and international karate champion, and Salwa Fathima, a commercial pilot, as examples of progress and empowerment among Muslim women in the Old City of Hyderabad.

“There are many more such heart-warming stories as Muslim girls also get into higher education, choose professional lives and seek employment, including in the IT sector, in higher numbers,” the activists noted.

Call for responsible reporting

The activists urged Nishat to reconsider her approach and the potential impact of her claims. “We urge you to reflect upon the larger consequences of repeating these 20-year-old cases as ‘interesting stories.’ We strongly object to your recent interview with the ANI News.”

The joint statement was signed by notable activists including Khalida Parveen, SQ Masood, Noorjahan Siddiqui, Dr Veena Shatrughna, and others.