Columnists

Javed Anand

The writer is general secretary, Muslims for Secular Democracy, and co-editor, ‘Communalism Combat’

What is at stake in the hijab issue

Fri, Feb 18, 2022

Javed Anand writes: Secularists must support rights of Muslims in an increasingly Islamophobic world, but they should be wary of strengthening the Muslim right in the process

It is not criticism by moderate Muslims that fuels Islamophobia

Wed, Oct 13, 2021

Javed Anand writes: It is fuelled when they are silent about the unsavoury words and deeds of some Muslim individuals and organisations.

On RSS reassurances to Muslim, deeds matter more than words

Sat, Sep 18, 2021

Javed Anand writes: Bitter past experience reveals the yawning gulf between the utterances and promises of the RSS and its affiliates on the one hand, and their performances on the other.

The moderate Muslim must address the reality of many lived Islams

Fri, Nov 06, 2020

The moderate Muslim must not seek to explain away violence in the name of Islam with whataboutery, but must face up to the problems with lived Islam.

Already rampant communal virus in India is gleefully piggy-back riding on coronavirus

Sat, Apr 04, 2020

The Tablighi Jamaat is by no means the only body culpable of gross neglect and irresponsible conduct in the current crisis. But it must account for its own idiotic role in the escalation of the pandemic.

Muslims are protesting not because their religion is in danger, but for the imperilled Constitution

Mon, Jan 20, 2020

The protest this time is not faith-based, there is no gender segregation. Muslim men and women are out there alongside all others. Yes, there are Muslim women in burqas and hijabs. But also there in large numbers are women who “don’t look like Muslims”.

Listen, Mister Muslim. You are rightly upset with the Ayodhya verdict as it puts faith above law

Thu, Nov 14, 2019

Let’s recognise our own complicity in becoming the convenient ‘Other’ for Hindu nationalists

Courts of injustice

Mon, Jul 30, 2018

Alternative legal redress systems are needed and welcome. But, as debate in the UK has shown, sharia councils are the preserves of clerics who are intolerant of women’s equality and rights.

For and against

Tue, May 15, 2018

Those opposing Jinnah’s portrait share an ideological heritage with him: An exclusive idea of nationhood.

Liberals in majoritarian times

Wed, Apr 04, 2018

Liberal democrats owe it to themselves to choose their words and fora responsibly.

Adding law to injury

Mon, Dec 18, 2017

New law criminalising triple talaq may not be in best interests of Muslim women. Solution lies elsewhere

Saudis on the move

Wed, Nov 01, 2017

But it is not yet clear if the headline-grabbing decrees will add up to reform or mirage

The Big Lies

Fri, Sep 01, 2017

US conservatives made Trump denounce hate. RSS can learn from them

Islam’s reform: Way to go

Wed, Jul 19, 2017

Can passages of the Quran be cherry-picked — to embrace what is appealing and to skirt around what is not ? That is the question

Some personal questions

Fri, Apr 28, 2017

Need to ask, on sidelines of triple talaq debate: Is polygamy constitutionally valid? Is it un-Quranic?

Battles in the basti

Mon, Nov 07, 2016

Muslim women opposing triple talaq, polygamy face attack, but are fighting back.

Islam, ours and theirs

Tue, Oct 25, 2016

SC stand on triple talaq remains to be seen. But male monopoly over reading of Islam is under serious challenge.

Haji Ali will be reference point for similar cases involving rights of Muslim women

Thu, Sep 01, 2016

Bombay HC’s verdict upholding the constitutional right of women to enter the sanctum sanctorum of Haji Ali dargah could serve as a “get real” signal to the custodians of Indian Islam.