Thousands of Muslim Men Rally in Bangladesh to Protest Offering Equal Rights to Women

May 5, 2025 Diana Zapata News, Politics 0
Hefazat-e-Islam rally/Image: Video screenshot.
| Published May 5, 2025

Over 20,000 supporters of the Islamist group Hefazat-e-Islam rallied in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to protest proposed legal reforms aimed at granting equal rights to women, particularly concerning property inheritance. The group claimed the reforms contradict Sharia law and threatened nationwide rallies if their demands, including abolishing the reforms commission and banning the Awami League party, are not met.

The rally, held at Suhrawardy Udyan, was one of Hefazat’s largest since the 2013 Long March. Leaders issued a 12-point declaration demanding the dissolution of the Women’s Affairs Reform Commission, reinstatement of constitutional references to Allah, and enforcement of blasphemy laws. They also called for the prosecution of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and a ban on the Awami League party.

Jihad Watch reports that Muhammad Mamunul Haque, joint secretary of Hefazat-e-Islam, told AFP in a recent interview that group will continue to push to implement sharia, or Islamic law, and believes the group’s network of tens of thousands of seminaries — claiming to have some 500,000 members — means they will do well if the vote “is free and fair”.

“We will implement sharia,” Haque said, emphasizing that “Everything will be guided by the Koran… under an Islamic welfare state, all, regardless of their faith, will be treated justly.”

He also underscored that the punishment for “blasphemy against Islam” would be capital punishment.

“We demand death sentences for speaking against Allah, tarnishing the image of the Prophet, and offending Muslims,” Haque said.

“There is no room for negotiation in this regard.”

In August 2024, The Gateway Pundit reported on the chaos in Bangladesh when Muslim mobs attacked Hindu temples and massacred Hindus accused of being “Indian spies.“

Violent insurrectionists stormed the capital on Aug. 5 and forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country.

Critics argue that these developments threaten Bangladesh’s secular foundations and women’s rights. The rally’s scale and rhetoric have raised concerns about the growing influence of Islamist groups in the country’s political landscape.

Here are the implications of the mass Islamist rally in Bangladesh protesting women’s rights reforms:

⚖️ 1. Setback for Women’s Rights

The protests signal a major resistance to gender equality in Bangladesh. If the Islamist demands succeed, reforms aimed at giving women equal inheritance and legal standing could be reversed or weakened, delaying progress on basic civil rights for half the population.

🕌 2. Rising Influence of Hardline Islamist Groups

Hefazat-e-Islam’s ability to mobilize tens of thousands shows its increasing political and social power. Their push for Sharia law and blasphemy punishments—like death sentences—raises alarms about a shift away from secularism and toward religious authoritarianism.

🏛️ 3. Threat to Democratic Governance

Calls to ban the ruling Awami League and prosecute former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina are not just ideological—they’re direct threats to democratic institutions. It suggests extremist factions are willing to undermine political pluralism in pursuit of theocratic rule.

🌐 4. Regional and Global Stability Risks

If Bangladesh, a key U.S. and UN partner, succumbs to Islamist pressure, it could destabilize South Asia, embolden similar movements in neighboring countries, and strain international relations—especially regarding human rights and counter-terrorism cooperation.

🔥 5. Growing Intolerance of Free Speech

Demands for death penalties for “insulting Allah” point to a dangerous climate of religious intolerance, suppressing dissent, debate, or reform. This risks creating a climate of fear not just for political opponents, but for academics, journalists, and civil society.

SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – Thousands of Muslim Men Rally in Bangladesh to Protest Offering Equal Rights to Women
AP NEWS – Thousands of Islamists rally in Bangladesh against proposed changes to women’s rights
JIHAD WATCH – Bangladesh: Muslim leader says ‘We will implement sharia. We demand death sentences for speaking against Allah.’
THE ECONOMIC TIMES – Thousands of Islamists rally in Bangladesh against proposed changes to women’s rights

 

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