[PADS Statement] Expression of Concern Over Disruption of Discussion on a Book by the Author Noor Zaheer

People’s Alliance for Secularism and Democracy (PADS)

Press Release

Date: 23 February 2015

Expression of Concern Over Disruption of Discussion on a Book by the Author Noor Zaheer

People’s Alliance for Secularism and Democracy (PADS) is alarmed to learn that the short story writer and novelist Noor Zaheer, who is the author of a new book titled ‘Denied by Allah’ faced a disruption of a discussion on her book at the World Book Fair in Delhi on 22 February 2015; We condemn any attempts to threaten and to silence an exponent for women’s rights in India. We fully defend her rights to publically signal how religious laws, injunctions and practices impede on women’s rights.

We would like to alert all in the media, and secular minded groups that they should provide space to highlight the views expressed by Noor Zaheer. We are concerned about the well-being of the author and her publisher. The freedom to express opinions is one of the key hallmarks of any democratic society, and threats to these should be taken seriously without fear of hurting anyone’s sentiments.

Released in New Delhi

by Dipak Dholakia, Dilip Simeon, and Sanjay Kumar

On behalf of PADS