Rehna Fatima who tried to enter Sabarimala temple expelled from Muslim community

Alappuzha: Kerala Muslim Jama-ath Council (MJC), the apex body of Muslim Jama-ath across the state has expelled controversial activist and model Rehna Fatima who tried to enter the world famed Sabarimala temple as Ayyappa devotee under tight police security on October 19.

MJC while expelling Rehna maintained that she hurted the sentiments, rituals and beliefs of Hindu community.

Kerala MJC State President Adv. Haji A Pookunju in a statement here on Saturday night said that “Rehna Fathima, a muslim name bearer, tried to enter the  Sabarimala temple for Ayyappa darshan, hurting the sentiments and rituals of Hindu community. She has been expelled from the community and asked the Eranakulam Central Muslim Jama-ath to expel Rehna Fathima and her families from the Mahalle membership.”

The activist Rehna had no right to use the name of the community and she has no connection with Jama-ath, he said.

Advocate Pookunju has demanded the state government to take action under section 153 A, against the Muslim name bearer who had hurted the religious sentiments.

The action of IG Sreejith was against the police manual and violation of discipline.  “Providing police uniform and other things to anti-social elements was not at all justifiable and, hence, the government should take action against the IG too, the MJC state president said.

Following the Supreme Court order that women aged between 10 and 50 should be allowed, the Jama-ath council had already informed the government about the possible intrusion of anti-social elements in Sabarimala, he said and added that if the government had taken our warning seriously, such incidents could have been avoided.

It may be recalled that two women actvists, Kavitha Koshy, a TV journalist from Hyderabad and Rehna Fathima, a model and activist from Kerala reached till 50 meters away from the sacred 18 steps of the world famed hill shrine at sabarimala with full police protection and in police attire.  However, the police forced to abandon the move following stiff protest from the devotees and threat from thanri that he will close down the temple, if the women enter sannidhanam.

In the meanwhile, the fact came to light that the intention of Rehna was not to worship Lord Ayyappa and planned to create issues at Sabarimala, as the “irumudikettu” was filled with orange and other fruits, instead of traditional items like ghee coconut, rice, other materials.

The police action, providing such a high security and police dress had invited serious criticism to the police as well as the government. (UNI)