What Mohammed Shami's wife wears is nobody's business, not even his

The problem with religious fanatics and not-so-closeted bigots is that they really don’t get the idea that they have no right to tell others how to lead their lives. It’s one thing to follow archaic guidelines and rules from your religion. It’s a whole other thing when you shame someone for not following the same.

India’s pace bowler Mohammed Shami has been the latest to have borne the brunt of the outraged orthodox religious.

Most organised religions are patriarchal and oppressive towards women. So, when on December 24, Shami posted a photo of himself with his wife on Facebook, he immediately became victim of a slew of attacks from ultra conservative Muslims, criticising him for “allowing” his wife to dress up in a "revealing" (sleeveless) dress.

Of course, it is the men who think that they can tell women how to dress, or tell men how to dress their spouses. It’s years of conditioning, privilege and just sheer lunacy that has brought us to a day when we can see men shaming a cricketer by saying things like “Sharam karo sar aap ek muslim ho bibi ko parde me rakho (Be ashamed Sir, you’re a Muslim and you should keep your wife behind curtains)”.

The problem also extends beyond religion to a great degree, as it ultimately comes down to men dictating women on what they are supposed to wear. Whether it us conservative Muslims who make the women don burkas to supposedly protect them from the lustful eyes of men, or it is European nations not letting women wilfully follow their taditions by making burkinis illegal, it is always men who assume that they have a natural right, to tell women what to do.

Thankfully, not all people who dwell the internet think that way. These comments received a lot of flak, not only from people of other religions (including Hindus who got a little too carried away with their hate, conveniently forgetting that their religion too oppresses women on what they should and should not wear), but also Muslims who condemned this sort of meddlesome behaviour.

In an interview with Sportskeeda, badminton pro Jwala Gutta said “The people passing such statements have an advantage, you know; they are hiding behind a mask, to make these comments. I'm quite sure in real life, they will never have the guts to come forward and tell me such things. In fact, they will refer to me as 'Jwala Maam' and even ask for a selfie or something. Over time, I have realised that it's become a sort of entertainment for people, where they make such comments to attract more attention or get more likes, without realising how sensitive it might be.”

Even Shami did not back down to such meaningless outrage. In another Facebook post, the cricketer said (referring to his wife and child), “Ye dono meri zindage or life partner hai me acha trha janta hu kiya karna hai kiya nahi. hame apne andar dekhna chahiye ham kitne acche hai. (These two are my life and life partner. I know well enough what to do and what not to do. We all ought to mind our own business”.

This, possibly, is one thing, if everyone followed, would not make religion as bad as it is presently. But that’s wishful thinking. 

Also read - This short film narrated by Madonna pays a beautiful tribute to Qandeel Baloch