The entry by members of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan into the mausoleum came more than a month after the Haji Ali Dargah Trust told the Supreme Court it will allow women inside the inner sanctum of the shrine. Women devotees' entry into it was banned a few years ago.
"Today, I entered Haji Ali Dargah. I went till the point where women were allowed to go and offered prayers. The police were helpful this time. This is a fight for gender equality," Desai said after offering prayers.
Bhumata Brigade chief Trupti Desai on Thursday took her movement for gender equality to the famous Haji Ali dargah in Mumbai but stopped short of going into the shrine.
Several activists belonging to Muslim women groups held placards demanding entry for females into the sanctum sanctorum of the historic dargah, which receives hundreds of devotees everyday.
The management of Mumbai's iconic Sufi shrine Haji Ali Dargah has restricted the entry of women.
Haji Arafat said that the attempt by Desai to enter the Haji Ali Dargah is a conspiracy meant to disturb Mumbai's peaceful environment.
The court said, "The ban imposed on women from entering the Haji Ali dargah is contrary to Articles 14, 15, 19 and 25 of the Constitution of India."
Maharashtra government on Tuesday favoured entry of women in the sanctum sanctorum of the renowned Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai.
The National Investigation Agency on Monday detained gangster Chhota Shakeel's aide Salim Qureshi aka Salim Fruit and a trustee of the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai after conducting raids at over 20 places in the city and in adjoining Thane district against associates of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, an official said.
Women will be granted access to the sanctum sanctorum of the Haji Ali shrine in Mumbai on par with men
With Muslim women groups protesting in favour of their demand, seeking entry into the inner sanctum of Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai, trustee of the Dargah, Rizwan Merchant on Thursday said that their entry is prohibited in view of their safety which is 'fair and just'.
The actor sought blessings a day before the release of his new film, Ek Thi Daayan.
The decision by the authorities of Mumbai's iconic Haji Ali dargah -- to bar the entry of women into the tomb area has drawn widespread condemnation.
Desai requested the Dargah's trust to not move the Supreme Court against the HC's judgment.
The Supreme Court on Monday extended the stay granted by Bombay High Court to facilitate an appeal against its decision to lift the ban on entry of women near the sanctum sanctorum of the famous Haji Ali Dargah till October 24, when it will hear the matter.
Ruling out intervention by Maharashtra government on the issue of entry of women in restricted area of Haji Ali shrine, state Minority Development Minister Arif Nadeem Khan on Thursday said the Muslim clerics were entitled to take a decision on it.
The HC had held that the trust had no power to alter or modify the mode or manner of religious practices of any individual or any group.
On August 26, the Bombay HC had lifted the ban imposed on women from entering the inner sanctum of Mumbai's Haji Ali Dargah.
The Shiv Sena leadership, however, distanced themselves from the comment of Arafat Shaik saying "be it a man or a woman, all have equal rights to enter any religious place."
'As I was getting out of my car at Haji Ali some activists charged towards me with lathis and knives.'
IMD officials said the maximum temperature in the three districts could go up to 38 degrees Celsius.
A local AIMIM leader said they would not allow Desai to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the renowned Dargah and threatened to smear her face with black ink if she does so.
The reopening of the places of worship coincided with the Diwali 'Padwa', which is an important festival in the state.
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On Friday, the Bombay high court reversing the ban imposed on women entering the inner sanctum of the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai said, "The ban is contrary to articles 14, 15, 19 and 25 of the Constitution of India. Women should be permitted to enter the dargah on par with men." The news brought much cheer and joy to petitioner Zakia Soman who is also the founder of the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan. Zakia spoke to Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf on what made this verdict historic and how it will bring about a change in the future.
The judges said both the matters were similar involving entry of women in the religious shrines, and hence they would like to see what view would Supreme Court take on the issue before they give a ruling on the interim relief sought by the petitioner in the Bombay high court.
A Pakistani family which arrived here to visit the Haji Ali dargah to pray for their mentally challenged son was refused accommodation by several hotels in the city following which they spent the night on a pavement.
Migrants hailing from Gonda, Ambedkar Nagar, Unnao and other parts in Uttar Pradesh were looking forward to reach their homes.
Their next plan is to launch a campaign to ensure only women priests change the clothes of goddess idols.
Could the Haji Ali dargah verdict be the beginning of the end of all social discrimination -- against women, against Dalits, the low castes and the caste-less, asks Durba Dhyani.
'If we do not enter the temple, then history won't be made and all wrong rituals will get continue to be followed.' 'If they resort to violence against women and abuse them, how can they be Ayyappa Swamy's bhakts?'
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The bench said that it will hear the matter because of the apex court's judgment in the Sabarimala temple case.
Trupti Desai's fight earned women the right to enter the inner sanctums of the Shani Shingnapur Temple, the Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple and the Haji Ali Dargah. Her next target is Sabarimala in Kerala. Aditi Phadnis reports.
Religious scholar Hazrat Moin Miyan said though the option of filing a review petition is open, they are accepting the verdict for the betterment of the society.
'We will talk to Muslim, Christian organisations and form a broad alliance so that every temple, church and mosque will have freedom to manage their affairs and not to be intervened upon.'
The Mumbai Police on Friday released sketches of three persons who apparently carried out reconnaissance of sensitive spots in the city like Mahim dargah, Haji Ali dargah and Mahalaxmi temple last week. Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) K L Prasad said that the three men, along with a burqa-clad woman, had used a taxi for traveling across the city for the recce on October 22 and 23.
'Later, I asked Hrithik how he could have remained so calm in the circumstances. He told me simply, "What could have happened? At the most, they would have killed me".'
'After each election the losers troop to the court with various objections. The general election will not be different.' 'It could be worse if there is no clear majority and the President has to invite the party with the largest number to form the government,' points out M J Antony.
The Lord Ayyappa shrine will re-open for the two-month-long Madala-Makkarvilakku puja on Saturday.
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