Muslim women around the whole country are facing deep rooted inequality and violence against them. It is not only women’s right that undergoes violation but also basic principal & values of Islam are rubble under it. . Violence against women (VAW) is not an Islamic tradition, although it seems fairly widespread in Islamic marriages. Gender based notions of superordination and subordination became entrenched practices of Muslim society in Madhya Pradesh resulting into shocking state of Muslim women in the state. They are abused, physically, sexually and emotionally, in the name of a supposedly divine conception of privileged authority.

Violence against women as an expression of uneven distribution of power between men and women and gender inequality is present in all the stages of development of a society & is commonly visible in Madhya Pradesh where 50.8% of married women age 15-49 experience any form of physical or sexual violence ever in life. Often the outer world is blamed for insecurity of women but the most glaring aspect that women mostly face brutality in her own abode. In 83.2% husband is the main person to commit assault to currently married women who have been mugged physical violence ever. Among the married women who have ever faced sexual violence 84.4% women confronted of being sexually abused by their husband itself.

The roots of violence against women lie deep in the structure of the society and represent the most frequent form of human rights violation especially among Muslim community in Madhya Pradesh. The latest NFHS-3 Madhya Pradesh state report denotes that among the major religions followed in the state, Muslim women have been much more encountered to physical, sexual, emotional or in combination of any forms. In comparison to 27.7% Jain women & 48.6% Hindu women facing emotional, physical or sexual violence 60.8% Muslim women have to bear the pains of violence.

Sexual violence is any sexual act committed against the will of the other person, whether the victim does not give the consent or the perpetrator cannot get it. In the same sense sexual brutality is highest among Muslim with total 15.8 percent married women ever experienced it which is comparatively higher the state average of 11%, while it nearer to state average in case of Hindu, Jain & other caste. Sexual Violence may result sexually transmitted infections such as HIV/AIDS, unintended pregnancies, gynecological problems, induced abortions, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including miscarriage, low birth weight and fetal death.

The social status of women appears to be quite well off among Jain communities with least percentage of violence against women. Less than 25% Jain women are confronted to physical violence & 26.8 percentages of women faced any form of physical or emotional violence against 57.4% Muslim women tolerated the same. And 11.2% Jain women comes across emotional violence.

Emotional & psychological violence consists of various forms of mocking, criticism, threats, isolation, tormenting, public assaults etc. On an average 22 percent women in the state envisage emotional violence within the four walls of their home & outside. But Muslim women are more unfortunate as 26.7% of them were forced to bear emotional violence. Any form of violence and abuse increase risk of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep difficulties, eating disorders and emotional distress.

Physical & sexual violence may lead to physical injuries like deep wounds, broken bones, head injury, vision loss, and death. Among the married women age 15-49 who have faced any form of physical or sexual spousal violence in the last 12 months preceding the survey 11.6% of them had serious physical injuries. And among women underwent both physical & sexual violence simultaneously in the past 12 months resulting into serious injuries to 20.8 percent women. Responsibility for VAW is diminished by simply blaming women for their predicaments. Such distorted attitudes create a serious obstacle to eradicate VAW.

- Seema Jain