In a fresh twist to the Shoaib Malik - Sania Mirza - Ayesha Siddiqui wedding controversy, Shoaib now faces a fatwa. The Imam of Kolkata's Tipu Sultan Masjid, Maulana Barkati, has appealed to the civil societies of both India and Pakistan to boycott Malik, saying that the nikahnama that Ayesha had produced provided sufficient evidence of Shoaib's marriage with her, and also that Shoaib had admitted that the signature in it was his own. The Imam said that Malik has all the authority to marry Sania Mirza, but must accept Ayesha as his first wife.
Women's rights groups have joined the protests. United Women Front (UWF) and Society for Poor Women & Children - both support groups - came rallying behind Ayesha on Tuesday, after her family called upon for their backing. They claimed that they will approach the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) and also the National Women’s Commission (NWC) to bring the Shoaib Malik - Ayesha Siddiqui case to justice.
On an aside, the All-India Forward Block Party (AIFBC) filed a petition with the SHRC that Sania Mirza must return all the awards and rewards conferred on her by the government of India before her marriage, and marry as a normal lady. Its convenor M L Muralidhar Despande opined that Sania Mirza marrying Pakistani Shoaib Malik will hurt the sentiments of the people of India.
filed in:Sania Mirza, Shoaib Malik, Ayesha Siddiqui, Human Rights Commission