From: [email protected]
To:
Dear friends across India,A bright, accomplished 25-year old woman moved into a
flat in Mumbai with two other girls but just a week later she was kicked out --
for being a Muslim. Misbah Quadri is now fighting for justice -- let’s back her
and stand up for what makes India great -- our unity in diversity.Mumbai’s
Sanghvi Builders allegedly told Misbah that it is their company “policy” to
reject Muslim tenants! But after the story broke, they’ve gone quiet --
refusing to apologise. Let’s challenge them now to publicly scrap this bigoted
policy! They have 9 mega construction projects on and can’t afford to ruin
their reputation -- so let’s pressure them hard.When we get to 30,000
signatures, we’ll go to all the major media and make this story so big that
Sanghvi Builders will simply not be able to hide. Sign now for a united India
and share this with all your friends:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/kicked_out_for_being_muslim/?tFYWOabWhat happened
to Misbah Quadri isnot an isolated incident.Earlier this month, a 22-year old
Muslim MBA graduate was denied a job by a firm that claimed to only hire
only“non-Muslim candidates” and across the country finding a house to rent as a
Muslim is becoming notoriously difficult. But while there are acts of
discrimination, there are also incredible acts of solidarity between different
communities.Let's speak out when we see such deep discrimination.
Companiesspend huge sums in advertising for years to build up their brands and
will do anything to protect them. Sanghvi Builders is a high profile company
that lies exposed.If we create a full blown scandal now, it will not only get
them to change, but also send a strong message that Indians are ready to stand
up united.Let’s act now -- with 30,000 signers we’ll be able to make a media
splash to hold Sanghvi Builders to account for their illegal policy. Join below
and share with
friends:https://secure.avaaz.org/en/kicked_out_for_being_muslim/?tFYWOabIn
India and across the world, our community has stood up to uphold values of
diversity, unity and justice. That is the only path forward and we cannot let
those who want to divide us through discrimination to succeed.With hope and
determination,Risalat, Dalia, Emma and the rest of the Avaaz teamMore
Information:Muslim woman alleges she was asked to vacate flat in Mumbai because
of her religion (Hindustan
Times)http://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai/muslim-woman-alleges-being-thrown-out-of-mumbai-flat-because-of-her-religion/article1-1351720.aspxMumbai
firm rejects Muslim candidate's job application; police case registered
(Hindustan
Times)http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mumbai-firm-rejects-mba-s-job-application-for-being-a-muslim-police-register-case-probe-ordered/article1-1349546.aspxGhar
wapsi to beef ban: How life has changed since Modi became Prime Minister
(First
Post)http://www.firstpost.com/politics/ghar-wapsi-to-beef-ban-how-life-has-changed-since-modi-became-prime-minister-2244780.html
Avaaz.org is a 41-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure
that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making.
("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in
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You became a member of the Avaaz movement and started receiving these emails
when you signed "Stand with Misbah Quadri - Say no to discrimination!" on
2015-05-27 21:34:31 using the email address [email protected].
Won't rent to Muslims, builder told
woman: Complaint
Flat Broker Sought Clean Chit In
Case She Was Harassed
Barely a week after Kurla
resident Zeeshan Khan was denied a job because he was Muslim, Misbah
Quadri, a 25-year-old media professional in the city, complained she was
virtually forced out of a rented apartment because of her religion.
Lawyer Shehzad Poonawalla, who took up Khan's case with the National
Commission for Minorities (NCM), has moved the NCM again seeking an
inquiry into Quadri's case, as well as a discussion on a fair housing
policy .
Minority affairs minister Eknath Khadse said his
ministry will inquire and take action if any law had been
violated.“Every person has a fundamental right to buy or sell property
and to find a job,“ he added.
A few weeks ago, a househunting Quadri came across
an ad on social media by two girls seeking a room-mate for their Wadala
apartment. Hours before she was to move in, she says the broker in
charge of the flat called her and said she could not stay as she was a
Muslim. Backed by her Hindu flat-mates, she rebuffed the man and moved
in, but was hounded on the phone. She claims the broker threatened to
throw out her belongings if she did not move out.
When she
approached the builder's representative, Poonawalla's petition says she
was told it was company policy not to allow Muslim tenants. TOI could
not reach the builder or the broker.
Quadri finally left, and
says her flat mates were also asked to go for supporting her.
Misbah Quadri, a media professional who grew up in Gujarat, may take up
the issue of being hounded out of a rented flat in Wadala for being
Muslim with the National Human Rights Commission.
NCM
chairperson Naseem Ahmad, reacting to a Delhi lawyer's petition, said
the commission will decide on how to proceed on the case by Thursday ,
as its member in charge of Maharashtra was currently travelling.
After she had finalized moving into the rented flat with the two
women living there, the broker in charge of the apartment called her and
said she should stay away as she is Muslim. A heated argument
transpired. She says she was asked whether she wore a burkha. When she
said she did not, the broker allegedly told her that the residents at
the society probably wouldn't figure out that she was Muslim. She says
the broker also asked her to sign a “no-objection certificate“ before
moving into the society , saying she would not hold the flat owner,
broker or builder responsible if she faced harassment. A furious Quadri
did not, and moved into the flat as she said her Hindu flatmates were
supportive.
The petition with the NCM said a builder's representative told her they have
a policy of no Muslim tenants.
A few days later, she says the broker began harassing her over the
phone, and threatened to throw her belongings out of the house if she
did not move out.When she finally gave in, she says her flat-mates were
also asked to leave as they had backed her to the hilt.
A newswire report said a representative of the housing society said the
building did not discriminate against any religious group, and the
matter was solely between the broker and Quadri.
Activist-lawyer Shehzad Poonawalla had petitioned the NCM over
discrimination in Mumbai's housing sector a couple of years ago, over an
ad in a housing portal which mentioned that no Muslims were allowed in a
particular housing society . After the NCM petition, Poonawalla and
the housing portal worked towards battling discrimination in the real
estate sector.
In addition to seeking an investigation into
Quadri's com
plaints, both by the NCM and the Maharashtra government, the petition
has asked the minorities commission to direct the Centre o call a
meeting of all stake-holders in real estate -brokers, developers, state
governments and activists -to draft a `Fair Hous ng' law.
“This
could include incen ives in the form of tax rebates and easier loans
for those who promote cosmopolitan housing societies. Such a policy
could also rule against block-busting, or the process of excluding only
one community from a housing socie y or building. The policy should rule
against discriminatory advertising, too,“ said Poonawalla.
TIMES VIEW:
It is indeed objectionable that youths in
Mumbai are being denied job opportunities and flats purely on grounds of
religion. The communal polarization in Mumbai became severe after the
1992-93 riots, and it is unfortunate that the city has failed in many
ways to restore communal harmony even after more than two decades.
Urgent steps need to be taken to end discrimination; perhaps it is time
for the law to step in to set matters right
