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Kashmir's All-Girls Band Decides to Call It Quits

The first all-girl band of Kashmir today decided to call it quits in the wake of a 'fatwa' issued by Grand Mufti terming singing as un-islamic, a remark that came under all round attack.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah was among a large number of political leaders who gave their unflinching support to the girls, urging them not to quit singing because of a "bunch of morons". The hardline Hurriyat led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani also criticised the Grand Mufti.

Within days after their performance in Srinagar, the band started receiving online threats and absurd comments which was followed up with a 'fatwa' (religious decree) issued by Grand Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad yesterday.

Sources close to the band said the girls have decided not to sing in the wake of Mufti's controversial decree.

The 10th-class students -- vocalist-guitarist Noma Nazir, drummer Farah Deeba and guitarist Aneeka Khalid -- had formed a band "Pragash" and performed in December last year with a scintillating performance at the annual 'Battle of the Bands' competition in Srinagar and won the best performance award in their first public appearance.

Sensing the mounting support for the girls, hardline faction of Hurriyat Conference led by Geelani distanced itself from the 'fatwa' and said, "There is no threat to the girls. Nobody has issued any threats. It is a mere propaganda by the media and they are making a big bomb out of a normal issue to defame Kashmiris."

The spokesman of the Hurriyat faction Ayaz Akbar said some youngsters posting abuses on social networking sites cannot be termed as threat and added that Hurriyat does not support such abuse or coercion and force in any way.

Opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the abusive threats to the rock band and blamed the media for negative portrayal of the issue. 

"The government should look into the abuses and threats made by some people to the girls on the Facebook. It is a problem that needs to be sorted out," Mehbooba said.

She said the reporting of the issue, particularly in electronic media, gave an impression that Kashmiris were a 'Taliban-like' force.

"Music is part of our culture--we have produced great singers like Raj Begum, Zoona Begum and Kailash Mehra. Kashmiris are an emancipated people," she added.

In New Delhi, political parties cutting across party lines and various women organisations extended their support to the band and also slammed the Grand Mufti for calling their singing "un-Islamic".

Congress, BJP, BJD, National Commission for Women, AIDWA and NFIW were on the "same page" asserting that the fatwa by Grand Mufti would push the society backwards.

"This is wrong. Every one has their own perspective, there are traditions. But I believe that if after so many years of independence, we stop girls from any work, it will be our double standards," Mamata Sharma, Chairperson of National Commission for Women, said.

"On the one hand we say that both genders should be equal but on the other we put restrictions on girls, that girls cannot do this...I believe this is very wrong," she added.

Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh slammed the fatwa and said stopping the all-girls rock band will take the society backwards.

"I have always said that whether it is ideology of the Hindu fundamentalist or Muslim fundamentalist, it will take the country back to 18th century. Congress is a moderate liberal party. We cannot support such things," he said.

Coming out in support of the rock band, BJD MP Jay Panda said: "I think no body has the right to stop other people from expressing themselves through their music or other cultural activities," he said.

Echoing Singh's views, BJP MP Najma Heptullah said: "Saying anything in the name of religion does not do any favour to the religion...If you don't like songs, don't listen to them. To stop them (the rock band members) in the name of religion, I don't think it is the right move."

Emerging story. Watch this space for updates as more details come in
FILED IN: Music | Moral Police | Girls | Islam | Fatwa |J&K
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Digression

19/D-2
Feb 06, 2013
12:16 AM

All the major religions have seen dark ages and then experienced reformist movements where some were brave enough to questions the wrong practices. Christianity had the dark ages and rennaissance. Hinduism had Sati, caste system, untouchability, ghunghat and then came the likes of Rammohan roy who questioned it. Many of the ills of Hinduism are dying a slow death. The modern generation believes only Science. Genetics, engineering, physics, maths have changed the complete outlook of life and questions many theories of medivial religions. The only problem is that no one is willing to reform the last of the great relgions. Its the most orthodox and strictest. It surpresses free speech, doesn't believe in equality of all religions. doesn't treat men and women equal, doesn't believe in genetics. Will the moderates please stand up and fight back for humanity?

Rahim kumar

rahim_k, Chennai
18/D-105
Feb 05, 2013
08:53 PM

Often little things have thrown Islam into danger. This is reflected in the performance of 3-girl Band, Pragaash's musical performance. And what a  wonder they have  become a danger to Islam, compelling the grand Mufti to issue a fatwa. 

I can forsee they are in the making of Malala of Pakistan. Let them master courage and defy the fatwa. The whole country will stand by them.

All right thinking people indeed will wish them well.

Sanket Biswas, Kolkata
17/D-100
Feb 05, 2013
08:19 PM

The girl said on TV :: We realize that what Mufti sahib said is right .Singing is unilamic so we quit .

And Girls quited and said what ? We will not sing Sufi songs of Buleh Shah, sufi songs sang by Amir Khusro in aqidat of Khwaza Nizamudin etc .

Torevel in such type of limitations and live in chained society we gave Jinnah and his Pures their Puristan .Why such Maulvies stayed back in India ? They piss before Jihadies and have the gal  to terrorize the little girls .

And where is our mouth frothing Psecu Brigade who were all over the net &  used to post reams after reams of criticism of  Ram Sene,Saffrons VHP ,Togidias but hide when they have to take upon their own Maulvies ??

Ram Punayni ,Bi Shabo Appa,107 Professors of Jamia ,Mashrilu Hasan and all others such liberals who curse us day in and out have lost their voices .Their vocal chords are so chocked that in phati-phati & tooti -phuti Awaz they say ' Ji yeh theekh nahin hua ji .Larkion ko ganey do but we must also be sensitive to minority's sensitives too.'

ASHOK KUMAR GHAI, Mumbai
16/D-88
Feb 05, 2013
06:22 PM

 Maulanas say Fatwa is an adviseory.Obey or not is girls choice .
No threat was made in the Fatwa but the message is clear 'if you don't put aside your drums then 'dekhana'

Maulana Kazmi said Islam prohibits singing of Rap,Pop etc by the girls . Does Quran says so ?
Maulana sahib Islam arrived in seventh century and Prophet sahib's wrords were at that time the final .
But Pap Rap came in 1960s .So how the Rap Pop music is banned by Islam and by whom ??
Prophet's words were final and nothing beyond Quran can constitute Islam.

Maulana further said girls may sing before family members but not before the public.Now Girls are singing on stage show as females sing on stages in the Sharia ruled Pakistan ,Iraq and many other Muslims countries who too are following sharia Laws .

So how can Indian Mullahs say NO singing in Public ??
Sufi singers like madams Zila Khan ,Abida Parvin and dozens,hundreds other women have been singing Sufi songs in Public now and in the past centuries .There was no problem then so why now ??

The Girls Fatwaed NO Singing are hardly 15-16 years of age and studying in the Tenth class. They competed First Time ever on a public stage in Rock Band show held in Srinagar .Where 40 bands of boys and girls Bands  performed .

These three girls won the competition .

But Kashmiri Imam became offended in stead of praising the feat of very young girls.He said parents should control the girls and ban them from performing in public .Reason that Males get excited .But that is the devilish mentality of the males' psyche not the fault of the females .

Well then why males should sing before females ? Will that not the same effect on the females too??

Muslims want all the benifits of Secular approach and Constitutinal Rights but are not agrreing to avail the same by others .

Now Psecu brigade will quote Ram sene etc to even out .But sene etc toh pagal hein toh kaya aap bhi ???

ASHOK KUMAR GHAI
Mumbai, India
15/D-31
Feb 05, 2013
10:28 AM

Boys can band, girls have to disband.

K.Suresh, Bangalore
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