Girls rock band: Distraught band member flees Valley, rest in hiding after fatwa

While Dukhtaran-e-Millat(DeM) warned the girls of social boycott, Muslim Khawateen Markaz (MKM) denounced the fatwa of the Grand Mufti against their singing and termed the threat of ostracisation as "unwarranted".

"There are much bigger issues where fatwas can be issued. Why has there been no fatwa against male singers? Why has there been no fatwa against girls participating in government or army functions," Zamaruda Habib, patron of MKM said.

Zamaruda said the fatwa is nothing but politics and these things are giving a "bad name" to Kashmir.

Separatist groups divided on support to all-girl band

Srinagar: The controversy over Kashmir's first all-girl rock band 'Pragaash' has brought to fore differences among separatist groups in Jammu and Kashmir.

While Dukhtaran-e-Millat) warned the girls of social boycott, Muslim Khawateen Markaz (MKM) today denounced the fatwa of the Grand Mufti against their singing and termed the threat of ostracisation as "unwarranted".

"There are much bigger issues where fatwas can be issued. Why has there been no fatwa against male singers? Why has there been no fatwa against girls participating in government or army functions," Zamaruda Habib, patron of MKM said.

Zamaruda said the fatwa is nothing but politics and these things are giving a "bad name" to Kashmir.

"In the wake of controversies concerning women, what has concerned us in a terrible way is the upsurge in domestic violence and bride burning issues that have come to the fore.

"It is a catastrophic situation where we see very few men in the community getting agitated by such brutal acts of violence perpetrated against women. This shows the Islamic or humanistic morals of our society are being shoved under political excuses and remain at the bay from larger male consciousness," she said.

She said, the MKM believes in the freedom of expression of art, music and grace that "suits and defines us as a nation".

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