Rehana Fatima is an activist from Kerala who came into the limelight after the Sabarimala temple incident. She is known for breaking social stereotypes and traditions, which has often landed her in controversy.
Wiki/Biography
Rehana Fathima was born on Friday, May 30, 1986 (37 years old; as of 2023) in Ernakulam, Kerala. Her full name is Rehana Fathima Pyarijaan Sulaiman and her star sign is Gemini. Her other name is Surya Gayatri. She completed her graduation from Government Higher Secondary School, Ernakulam in 2001. After that, she obtained a B.Com and MCA degree from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and currently works as a telecom technician in BSNL. Apart from this, she has also acted in the movie Eka and has been working as a model for many years. Fathima is a well-known social activist in Kerala, known for breaking social barriers and speaking out for equality and freedom.
appearance
Height (approximate): 5′ 7″
Hair color: Black
Eye color: Black
Family and religion
Fatima was born into an orthodox Muslim family, however, she became disillusioned with religion after her father’s death.
Parents and siblings
Her father, Pyarijaan Sulaiman, died when she was in 12th grade.
Relationships and Children
Fatima was living with filmmaker and social activist Manoj Sreedharan.
Rehana and her partner Manoj outside their residence
Old photo of Fathima and Manoj Sreedharan in 2009
The couple has two children.
Rehana and Manoj with their children
Activism and controversy
Her Facebook profile reads “Break the Rules.” As a result, her activities to break the glass ceiling have occasionally landed her in controversy.
- In March 2014, she took part in the ‘Kiss of Love’ movement against the morality policing by the Kerala government. She and her live-in partner Manoj Sreedharan were the pioneers of the ‘Kiss of Love’ movement against the morality policing. Manoj shared a video of the kiss on his Facebook account.
I sent my love kiss to Rehana Fathima from WhatsApp
Manoj K Sreedhar, 2014 16 months
- From a young age, she has challenged the dogmatic rituals and tenets of different religions. In 2016, she was one of the first women to perform in “Ayyanthol Puli Kali,” a traditional male festival of Onam tiger dance performed by an all-male troupe.
- In March 2018, she joined the ‘Bottom Bare’ movement by sharing a picture of herself placing a watermelon on her chest to protest against derogatory remarks made by a professor in Kozhikode who reportedly associated women’s breasts with watermelon slices.
- In 2017, she starred in a Malayalam film, Eka, an artistic work that focused on bisexuality. Reportedly inspired by true events, Eka was the first Indian film to expose and showcase atrocities against transgender, transsexual, LGBT and all gender minorities. However, the film was banned in India.
- In September 2018, the Supreme Court of India ruled on the entrance issue of the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, allowing women of all ages to enter the holy site. In the past, entry to the temple was restricted to menstruating women only. As a result, this ruling triggered massive protests in Kerala. Rehana Fathima, who is known for breaking the glass ceiling prevalent in society, along with Hyderabad-based journalist Kavitha Jakkal, headed towards the Sabarimala temple under heavy security. However, their attempt to enter the temple was blocked by a group of Hindu protesters and devotees, who stopped them from entering just 500 meters from the temple. She had to face some serious opposition as the attempt to enter the temple caused outrage and her home was vandalized by a group of agitated protesters.
Rehana and journalist Kavitha Jakkal walk out of Sabarimala temple
- In November 2018, she was suspended from BSNL and arrested by the police for posting controversial posts on social media that hurt religious sentiments.
- In February 2019, she was sentenced to 18 days in jail in a cheque bounce case and even had to pay a fine of Rs 2.1 lakh.
- On June 24, 2020, a case was registered against Fathima under the Information Technology Act and the Juvenile Justice Act, and POSCO, for posting a video on social media in which her minor children (an 8-year-old girl and a 14-year-old boy) were seen drawing a phoenix on her semi-naked body. The Kerala High Court rejected her preventive bail plea in the POSCO case and subsequently, in August 2020, she approached the Supreme Court, which also rejected her preventive bail plea, stating that she was using social media to spread obscene content.On June 26, 2023, the Kerala High Court acquitted Rehana Fathima, stressing that a woman’s right to autonomy over her own body is a fundamental aspect of her right to equality and privacy. In her appeal, Rehana Fathima argued that her purpose in engaging in body painting was to make a political statement against the prevailing social perception that a woman’s bare upper body is always sexual, while a man’s bare upper body is not. In acquitting Rehana, Kerala High Court Justice Kauser Edappagath said there was no evidence that her children had participated in any actual or simulated sexual activity for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.
On June 26, 2023, the Kerala High Court acquitted Rehana Fathima, stressing that a woman’s right to autonomy over her own body is a fundamental aspect of her right to equality and privacy. In her appeal, Rehana Fathima argued that her purpose in engaging in body painting was to make a political statement against the prevailing social perception that a woman’s bare upper body is always sexual, while a man’s bare upper body is not. In acquitting Rehana, Kerala High Court Justice Kauser Edappagath said there was no evidence that her children had participated in any actual or simulated sexual activity for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification.Facts/Trivia
- In 2018, the Kerala Muslim Association Council expelled her from the Muslim community for trying to enter the Sabarimala temple.
- She worked in BSNL till May 2020, after which BNL forced her to take voluntary retirement.
- She believes that nudity does not have to be associated with sex and that it is time we stop viewing nudity as vulgar.
- She is a left-wing activist with progressive ideas.
- Although she was born into an orthodox Muslim family, she was very into Hinduism. This was one of the reasons why she used the name Surya Gayatri.
- Rihanna is interested in both men and women. She shared this on her Facebook page.
- According to her Facebook information, she speaks multiple languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu and Arabic.
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education