DAR AL HARB - INDIA: A NEW FATWA RESTRICTING GIRLS' SCHOOLING

Islamic seminary restricts girls' schooling
By Biswajeet Banerjee

LUCKNOW, India -- One of South Asia's most influential Sunni Muslim seminaries has issued a religious edict against teaching girls and boys at the same schools past age 10, claiming it is against Islamic law, an official said Sunday.

"Coeducation is against Islam and therefore Muslims should refrain from sending their children, particularly girls, to coeducational schools," Mohammed Asumin Qazmi, an office bearer of the Dar-ul-Uloom Sunni seminary in northern India, told The Associated Press.

The edict, or fatwa, said boys and girls can study together until they are 10.

"Islam forbids women to meet men who are not their father or close relatives. Therefore, how can one expect that Islam allows for coeducation," he said.

The fatwa was issued last week following an e-mail from a follower asking whether Islam allows a female to attend coeducational institutions after reaching puberty. The seminary routinely receives e-mail questions, especially those pertaining to the Islamic way of life. It did not disclose the name of the e-mail sender.

While the fatwa is only a religious guideline that cannot be legally enforced, it's likely to pressure some conservative Muslim parents into removing their daughters from coeducational schools.

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