Sex workers plan to build mosque after Fatwa

THE ONGOING tension between the sex workers and the Islamist leaders in Purnia, is taking a serious turn now. A long confrontation has been going on between sex workers and Muslim clergy since last few weeks.

During this stalemate, the Muslim clergy issued a Fatwa against sex workers. The fatwa issued last week banned sex workers’ entry into local mosques. The Fatwa also prohibited them from offering Namaaz on the grounds that they are involved in the flesh trade.

Now the angry sex workers have decided to construct their own mosque as a response to the fatwa issued by Muslim clergy. The sex workers have been facing strong criticism from local Islamist leaders for last many weeks.

The battle of ideologies, has been going on between both the parties over questions like whether sex workers are untouchables or not and whether their profession is anti-Islamic or not? This confrontation has now taken a serious turn and may create law and order problems.

Whole problem started when men from sex worker families went to a local mosque last Friday to offer Namaaz during Ramzan. However, the clerics at the local Madina mosque located at Khuskibagh in Purnia district, strongly objected to their entrance. According to the reports clerics ordered them to leave the place immediately. Clerics pointed that since they were part of the flesh trade so they could not enter the holy place.

The group of men also pleaded clerics to allow them to enter the mosque and offer Namaz. But the clerics remained firm on their decision and did not allow them to offer Namaz.

After few arguments between both the parties, the Clerics went a step further and issued a Fatwa against the sex workers and their families.

Now as a result of this tension, the sex workers have decided to construct their own mosque near the Madina mosque. One of the sex workers has already donated land for the construction. Funds raising exercise has also been started.

Ashique Rehmani, the leader of sex workers while speaking to media said, "It’s a matter of prestige and we will do it come what may”. He also added that Islam does not discriminate between various classes of people. He also told that around 50 of the sex workers have left the job and have joined the mainstream of the society but even then they are facing harsh comments and discriminations in the society.

On the other hand a local Muslim cleric justified the Fatwa on the grounds that the Muslim clergy can not allow sex workers to interfere with Islam and to maintain the sanctity of religion and mosque, banning their entry was really needed.