Indian Union Muslim League Harassment Case: 10 Things You Should Know

Indian Union Muslim League Harassment Case: A complaint of harassment and misogyny was filed against three men by ten members of the Muslim Students Front (MSF) Women's Wing. However, only the name of only one person, PK Navas, the president of MSF, the student's organisation for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), was included in the chargesheet. Kerala police have not explained why the name of the other accused was excluded.

In August this year, 10 women from Haritha, the women's wing of MSF, decided to file a complaint against three men- Navas, MDF Malappuram district president M Kabeer and VA Wahab--for making sexually explicit remarks and humiliation during a meeting. The inaction by the head organisation of the students' front angered the members further. The incident took place on June 24.

"The case dragged on as if no one was interested in investigating. The MSF didn't even submit the minutes of the meeting to the police," said Fathima Thahliya, the National Vice-President of the MSF who was removed for speaking in support of the ten women.

In light of the reemergence of the case in terms of missing names in the chargesheet, here are ten things to know what happened on June 24 and after:

- On June 24, during a meeting of MSF office-bearers,  Navas, Kabeer and Wahab made "sexually coloured remarks" against ten female members.

- The ten members of the women's wing approached the IUML leadership but they suggested "compromise", which was an unacceptable suggestion to the women who wanted the three accused to be removed.

- After this, the three men allegedly "expressed regret" to the women but Navas stood by his word.

- They filed a police complaint in August after which Navas was arrested in September and later released on bail.

- The charges filed against Navas were Section 354 (A), which deals with physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures as well as making sexually coloured remarks and 509 for insulting the modesty of women, of the Indian Penal Code.

- This case was registered at Vellayil police station in Kozhikode.

- The IUML dissolved the Haritha state committee but despite that, the accused continue to work on their posts.

- Instead, Fatima Thahliya who spoke for her women colleague, was allegedly removed from her post for speaking out.

- The complaint also mentioned Wahab's name but no chargesheet was filed against him.

- Wahab, who was not arrested, was accused of sending abusive messages to a Haritha leader.

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