Bangladesh: Thousands rally against women’s rights proposals, Call reform commission anti-Quran

Thousands of Islamists rallied in Dhaka, Bangladesh, protesting proposed reforms aimed at ensuring gender equality. The protest, organised by the hardline group Hefazat-e-Islam, called for the dissolution of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, labelling it “anti-Quranic” and opposing proposals to expand rights for Muslim women, including property inheritance.

More than 20,000 supporters gathered near Dhaka University, holding placards that read, “Say no to Western laws on our women, rise up Bangladesh.” The group is demanding not only the scrapping of the interim government’s reforms commission but also punishment for its members over the proposed changes.

Hefazat-e-Islam, a powerful Islamist pressure group largely made up of teachers and students from private Islamic seminaries known as kawmi madrassas, also announced a nationwide protest after Friday prayers on May 23. In addition, they released a 12-point declaration and demanded the formation of a new women’s commission, composed of Islamic scholars and conservative female representatives.

Islamist leaders at the Dhaka rally declared that women’s social roles and progress in Bangladesh should align with religious and cultural traditions, not Western ideals. “Men and women can never be equal,” said a female madrassa teacher, emphasising that the Quran sets distinct roles for each gender and “there is no way we can go beyond that.”

The protesters also demanded the reinstatement of “complete faith and trust in Almighty Allah” in the constitution. They urged the government to reject what they called the “suicidal concept” of pluralism and to safeguard the Islamic faith and practices in the country.

The group also objected to the inclusion of terms like “gender identity,” “gender diversity,” “gender equality,” “gender discrimination,” “third gender,” and “other genders” in official discourse, claiming these promote LGBT and transgender ideologies.

Hefazat-e-Islam further demanded the enactment of strict blasphemy laws prescribing the highest punishment for offenses against Allah and the Prophet Mohammed.