After the court allowed Taher to continue his father’s challenge to the succession, he said that the court will give a verdict in his favour and hinted at no reconciliation between ‘right and wrong’
“There was no delay on our front in condemning female genital mutilation (FGM) the way it is practised now,” said Syedna Taher Fakhruddin, the 54th Dai Ul Mutlaq, who is now fighting the succession battle of his late father for the 53 Dai Ul Mutlaq’s post, held by his uncle Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin.
Fakhruddin became the first Syedna in the community’s recent history to talk to the press in person and take questions directly. The community, before and after it split, has chosen public relations executives and people deputed by the clergy to answer questions instead.
After the court allowed Taher to continue his father’s challenge to the succession, he said that the court will give a verdict in his favour and hinted at no reconciliation between ‘right and wrong’.
“I think the stand we have taken needs to be appreciated,” added Taher. Besides slamming the way it is practised now, Taher said that Shariah prescribes Khafz — practised incorrectly as FGM — which is for betterment of women. “Like our previous Syednas, the community has always given precedence to the law of the land. A woman should decide after adulthood if she wants to (opt for FGM),” he said.
But what is his stand when it comes to the issue as a matter of principle? “It is prescribed for the betterment of women. They should do what is prescribed, but no one can force them,” said Taher, who, his followers say, is a great advocate of equal rights for men and women in the community.
But why did he have no stand when he or his father were in the community and took it up only after the issue gained traction? “We got to know of it only recently. We probed it ourselves and I think you will appreciate that we formed a good solution that a logical person would take keeping the law (of the land) in mind,” said Taher.
SPEAKING OUT
Taher on other pertaining issues
On triple talaq
“While resolving, rights of women should be kept at the forefront.”
Transparency, zakat (donations) and names given to newborn: “We will maintain absolute transparency. No one will be forced to give Zakaat or any other donations. If someone asks us to give names for their children, it will be given, but it will also be up to them to use the name in schools.”
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 "Syedna Taher Fakhruddin")
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