All religions are liberal: expert

Saifulla said, “Nobody is superior or inferior; men and women have complementary roles to play towards each other”.

Referring to the concept of family under Islamic traditions, he said it comprised father, mother and children which he said can be compared with a ministry in the democratic system of government.

Islam permitting a man to have more than one wives was misused for exploitation of women which is common in different religions worldwide. Same misinterpretations lead Ismal to be projected as anti-women, he added.

He said Islam also prescribed safe and secure family life for all at home, in the neighborhood and at the learning places. This also meant that the female child and the women had the right to education and health. Saifulla pointed out to the life of the prophet, “He practised what he preached”.

Detailing the equal status of women in Islam, he said though projected contrary women had the choice of her spouse besides the right of divorce. However, divorce was the last resort or else it would amount to violation of the tenets of Islam.

Speaking on Buddhism and Women, dhammacharya Dr Vimal Kirty said that Buddhism was not bound by any ritual. Dharma was meant for the advancement of human beings and not that human beings were bound by the rituals, he said.

Buddism allows any human being to be Buddha as Buddhism did not confine itself to do justice to women and other oppressed, but to society as a whole, he added.