Web Desk: A Mumbai couple Maya and Shamaun got their nikkah soleminised by Qazi Hakima Khatoon in Kolkata on January 5.
The couple came across the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan’s (BMMA) website and saw that the movement has trained women Qazis in Quranic and constitutional rights. This was the first wedding conducted by a woman.
According to the founder of BMMA, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, “The biggest challenge is to get couples to come forward. We need more Mayas and Shamauns, the new age, modern, liberal Muslim men and women.”
Khatoon said she started work a month prior to the date. “We had to decide on mehr (a security amount given by husband to wife at the time of wedding), check identity proofs, ensure the application form was in place and explain the procedure to the couple. We were a little anxious, but the support shown by the couple and their guests made our work easier,” said Khatoon.
