(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - Muslim women have demanded their proportional representation in state appratuses from the village to the centre.

Nepal Muslim Women Welfare Society said at a programme in the Capital that fair representation of the Muslim women is crucial for their empowerment, pointing that six lakh Muslim women have been at the receiving end with the political parties and the state is not doing enough to uplift their status.

The society further demanded that the government take measures to safeguard the rights of Muslim women, who have become victims of the dowry system, divorce and domestic violence, and are unaware of their rights. It also expressed concern over what it called the 'tendency' of looking down upon Muslim women while they go to schools and colleges wearing veils.

The society has demanded separate schools, colleges and universities for Muslims, where they can receive religious education.

Society Chairperson Seema Khan said the situation of Muslim women is deteriorating further with their fair representation in socio-economic, religious, educational and political sectors still a far cry. She also blamed the state for discriminating against Muslim women.

"If the state and political parties remain oblivious to the plight of Muslim women, the latter will have no option but to opt for an agitation to get their voices heard," she warned.

/129