Maulana Sajid Rashidi faces backlash over remarks linking rape to late marriages
Synopsis
All India Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi allegedly claimed delayed marriages cause rape — and the fallout was immediate. BJP leaders, the UP State Women's Commission, and the VHP have all demanded an apology, with one BJP leader calling for his arrest. The NCW has been urged to take action, putting institutional pressure on the cleric.
Key Takeaways
Maulana Sajid Rashidi , President of the All India Imam Association , allegedly linked delayed marriages to rape during a public interaction on Friday, 10 July .
UP State Women's Commission Chairperson Babita Chauhan condemned the remarks as reflecting a 'narrow mindset.' VHP spokesperson Vinod Bansal demanded Rashidi apologise immediately and urged the NCW to take action.
BJP leaders Ram Kadam and Pratul Shahdeo also condemned the statement, with Shahdeo calling for the cleric's arrest.
Hanuman Garhi priest Debesh Acharya said the remarks reveal a 'low and disturbing thought process.'
All India Imam Association President Maulana Sajid Rashidi came under sharp criticism on Saturday, 11 July after he allegedly claimed that delayed marriages among women were a contributing factor to sexual violence. The remarks, made during a public interaction on Friday, drew condemnation from political leaders, women's rights bodies, and religious figures across the spectrum.
What Maulana Rashidi Allegedly Said
According to reports, Rashidi allegedly stated: 'Rapes are occurring because marriages are being delayed. If you want to ensure your daughters' safety, get them married early.' The remarks have not been officially retracted or clarified by the cleric as of the time of reporting.
Women's Commission and Political Leaders Respond
Uttar Pradesh State Women's Commission Chairperson Babita Chauhan said the statement reflects a 'narrow mindset.' She said: 'Today, India's women have made the country proud across various fields, even at the global level. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also talks about women empowerment and wants to bring them at par with men because women comprise half of the nation's population. If we are still lagging behind, it is because of people having this kind of mentality.'
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Kadam called the remarks 'baseless,' asserting that the appropriate age to marry is 'a girl's personal choice.' Fellow BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo went further, asking whether Rashidi was 'attempting to justify rape,' and demanded that those with 'such perverted mentality should be immediately arrested.'
VHP Demands Apology, NCW Action
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) spokesperson Vinod Bansal described the statement as reflecting a 'bigoted mentality of leaders' and said: 'All women have equal rights in India. Clerics like him should abstain from such narrow and anti-women approach. He should immediately apologise to women.' Bansal also urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to take cognisance and initiate action against Rashidi.
Religious Voices Also Critical
Hanuman Garhi priest Debesh Acharya said the remarks expose 'how some people can have such a low and disturbing thought process.' He added: 'People, irrespective of their religion, should refrain from such kind of a mentality.'
Broader Context
This is not the first time statements linking women's autonomy to crime have ignited public debate in India. Critics argue that such remarks — attributing sexual violence to women's personal choices rather than to perpetrators — reinforce regressive social norms and undermine legal protections guaranteed under Indian law. The NCW has in the past issued notices in similar cases; whether it acts on VHP's demand remains to be seen.
Point of View
And Rashidi's alleged remarks fit a familiar pattern. What is notable this time is the breadth of the condemnation: it cuts across political and religious lines, from the BJP to the VHP to a Hindu priest. Yet the real accountability question is whether the NCW, which has the statutory power to act, will respond to the VHP's demand — or whether this episode, like several before it, ends at the press conference stage. The absence of any retraction or clarification from Rashidi as of Saturday only sharpens that question.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Maulana Sajid Rashidi allegedly say about women and marriage?
Maulana Sajid Rashidi, President of the All India Imam Association, allegedly stated during a public interaction on Friday, 10 July, that 'Rapes are occurring because marriages are being delayed. If you want to ensure your daughters' safety, get them married early.' The remarks have not been officially retracted.
Who is Maulana Sajid Rashidi?
Maulana Sajid Rashidi is the President of the All India Imam Association, a body that represents mosque imams across India. He has previously made public statements on social and religious issues.
How did the UP State Women's Commission respond?
UP State Women's Commission Chairperson Babita Chauhan condemned the remarks, saying they reflect a 'narrow mindset' and contradict the national push for women's empowerment championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Has any action been taken against Maulana Rashidi?
As of 11 July, no formal action had been taken. The VHP has urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to intervene, and BJP leader Pratul Shahdeo called for Rashidi's arrest, but no official proceedings have been initiated.
Why do such remarks draw such strong reactions in India?
Statements that link women's personal choices — such as the decision to marry later — to incidents of sexual violence are widely condemned in India as they shift blame from perpetrators to victims. Critics argue such views contradict constitutional guarantees of equality and undermine legal protections for women.
