Burkha never an impediment to progress, education: Girls Islamic Organisation

Nampally: Breaking stereotypes, thousands of burqa clad young women, who attended the city's first conference of GIO (Girls Islamic Organisation) entitled 'Your Impetuous Zeal Keeps the World Alive' held at Exhibition Grounds at Nampally, threw emphasis that their attire was never an impediment to education and progress.

Representing different streams of education from medical, engineering, arts and research, some 10,000 girls converged at the Exhibition Grounds. Speakers while referring to increased number of cases of atrocities against women across the country, tried to break the notion and pigeonholing that women under burkha were oppressed, as Old City's women proved that in academics they have been producing better results than boys, year after year by remaining secure under the veil.

Speakers threw light on subjects covering educational, religious, moral and cultural aspects and felt that all can be balanced with proper focus and dedication, under present scenario. Important topics like harassment of women and solutions, girls facing problems at educational institutions and workplace and the problem resolution were discussed.

Syeda Falak, a Karate Champion, who was one of the guests, gave away awards to students who topped in Telangana Talento'19, festival held earlier this year, where girl students from 550 campuses took part and best students from different colleges were also felicitated. Speaking on the occasion, Khansa Fathima, state president of organisation while expressing concern over women's security in the country, she blamed the prevailing confusion on moral values of the youth, who are caught between the idea of progress by western and traditional standards.

City president, Munazzah Zarreen said, that Muslim girls were no way inferior to boys when it comes to education, as one can visualize them holding laptop in one hand and the holy book, Quran in other. Taking strong exception to the so-called liberal thinking, she called upon women to first fight the ideas pushed by market forces, as pursuing them would only end up in suffering and trauma.

City secretary of GIO, Madeeha Amreen, while referring to the women at workplaces in traditional attire held that while upholding their values and beliefs, women were taking up challenges on par with men, be it a workplace or educational institution. The programme was attended by state president of women's wing, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Asiya Tasneem and city president, Hafez Rashaduddin.