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The National Women's Front (NWF) is the women's wing of the Popular Front of India,[1] an organization which has been banned for a period of five years by the Government of India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act since 28 September, 2022.
| Abbreviation | NWF |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2009 |
| Type | Islamic activist and women’s rights organization |
| Headquarters | 5/3274A, Bank Road, Calicut-673001 |
| Location |
|
President | Lubna Menhaz Shaik |
General Secretary | Noushira Mohammed |
Parent organisation | Popular Front of India |
| Website | nwfindia |
Programs and campaigns edit
An event focusing on women's safety was organized by the National Women's Front at the India Islamic Cultural Center in New Delhi in 2013. In said event, a participant claimed that the main reason behind the December 2012 Nirbhaya Rape Case was alcohol, and that to prevent further violence, further campaigns against alcohol consumption should be enacted.[2]
In September of the same year, the National Women's Front organized the national campaign "Right to Hijab" across the country to create awareness about hijab and also promote the right to cultural identity.[citation needed]
In 2014, the NWF Delhi State unit held an International Women's Day celebration with their nationwide campaign "Women Representation – The Power to Empower".[citation needed]
In November of the same year, the NWF organized a conference ‘Awakening’ to debate issues concerning Indian women at Coimbatore. On the eve of the conference, an expo on women's rights and issues was inaugurated by Popular Front of India state president A.S. Ismail. Graphic illustrations of domestic violence, rape, female foeticide and riot victims were presented at the expo.[3]
The Kerala State committee of the National Women's Front organized a campaign against the Uniform Civil Code, as a part of national effort claiming that the Code posed a threat to the cultural diversity of India. During the campaign, the Uniform Civil Code was deemed "anti-national", with the accusation that the code would eliminate cultural diversity and subvert Indian Nationalism. According to the committee, the Uniform Civil Code was a manifestation of anti-Muslim tendencies of Hindutva groups.[4]
The NWF conducts anti-dowry campaign across the nation based on that it conducted during the Mohalla program in 2012.[5]
Controversy edit
In late 2017, videos from a sting operation of NWF president Zainaba AS showed that she admitted on camera that the NWF was carrying out mass conversion to Islam at Sathya Sarini. Zainaba had earlier been questioned by NIA for her role in conversion of Hadiya/Akhila, which was also termed a case of Love Jihad.[6][7] Zaibana retracted her recorded statement and claimed that the allegations were false. Following the sting operation, NIA questioned her for her involvement in the mass conversion.[8]
References edit
- ^ Staff Reporter (2017-09-24). "Row over Hamid Ansari attending PFI conference". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ "NWF organizes workshop for women". TCN News. 2013-02-18. Retrieved 2016-05-04.
- ^ "Women's conference in Coimbatore today". Deccan Chronicle. 2014-11-16. Retrieved 2016-05-08.
- ^ "National Women's Front opposes Uniform Civil Code". The Hindu. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
- ^ "National Women's Front will organize a Mohalla Program". Times of India. 2012.
- ^ Dev, Arun (2017-11-25). "Explained: Why Does Govt Want Popular Front of India (PFI) Banned?". TheQuint. Archived from the original on 18 July 2020. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Religious conversion: Fresh allegations turn heat on PFI". Deccan Herald. 2017-11-02. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
- ^ "Operation conversion factories: NIA questions PFI worker Zainaba". India Today. January 10, 2018. Archived from the original on 5 March 2022. Retrieved 2022-03-05.