Women's rights activists have greeted the marriage as a symbolic step forward for Muslim women, but the ceremony sparked a firestorm of criticism from conservative Islamic institutions, especially the Dar-ul-Uloom seminary in northern India.

The seminary is an intellectual hub for South Asian Muslims. Many of its theologians have publicly denounced terrorism but their work has nonetheless provided the intellectual underpinning for some of the most radical and violent Islamic movements in the region, such as the Taliban in Afghanistan.

An official at the seminary Ahmad Khizar Shah Masudi, called the marriage a "cruel joke on (Islamic) laws".

Another Muslim group, the Lucknow Idgah Committee, has said the marriage is invalid under Islamic law.

Hasan, the bride, works for Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Aandolan (Indian Muslim Women's Movement) a rights group that seeks a greater role for women.

Hasan brushed off the criticism. "I do not care. Islam says there cannot be anyone between Allah and his disciple.

"How come these clergymen are interfering in our matter?" she asked.

India allows marriage, divorce and inheritance matters to be determined by religious laws.

The couple's unorthodox ceremony was approved by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, which sets the rules on Muslim religious matters. But Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangimahali of the board said, "I won't ask anyone to go for this kind of marriage."
 

Source: Daily News