The Kerala-based activist Rehana Fathima, who caught the attention with a 2020 video in which she was seen partially nude with paintings, got relief in a POCSO case on Monday. The Kerala High Court acquitted her, emphasising that the right to autonomy over one’s body is often denied to the fairer sex and they are bullied, discriminated against, isolated and persecuted for making choices about their bodies.&nbsp;

In 2020, a video of Fathima went viral, showing her partially nude with paintings done by her minor children on her body. Eventually, she was arrested and her bail applications were repeatedly denied.&nbsp;

<h2>Who is Rehana Fathima?&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</h2>

Rehana Fathima is an Indian women’s rights activist from Kerala. She also has a background in telecommunications and modelling. She has been vocal against women’s moral policing and has participated in various protests against sexism.&nbsp;

Fathima gained widespread attention in October 2018 when she was one of the two women who attempted to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala following the Supreme Court’s decision to lift the ban on women of menstruating age. She has faced legal consequences for her activism, including arrests for allegedly offensive Facebook posts.&nbsp;

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She belongs to an orthodox Muslim family and she pursued her B.Com and MCA degrees from Indira Gandhi National Open University.&nbsp;

In 2014, she participated in the controversial ‘Kiss of Love’ protest in Kochi against moral policing along with her partner Manoj K Sreedhar.&nbsp;

<h2>What was the ‘nudity’ case?</h2>

After her 2020 video went viral, she was subsequently arrested. In her appeal in the Kerala High Court, Fathima asserted that the body paintings in the video were meant as a political statement against the default view of society that the upper body of the female is sexualised. She argued that the male body is treated differently and is not objectified or sexualised.&nbsp;

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In the past, she was also booked by police in the Pathanamthitta district under the Information Technology Act and the Juvenile Justice Act on a complaint lodged by BJP OBC Morcha leader AV Arun Prakash.&nbsp;

<h2>What did Kerala High Court say?</h2>

While discharging Fathima, Kerala High Court Justice Kauser Edappagath on Monday said from the allegations against the 37-year-old activist, it was not possible for anyone to infer that her children were used for any real or simulated sexual acts and that too for sexual gratification.&nbsp;

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The judge said it was "harsh" to term such an "innocent artistic expression" as a usage of a child in a real or simulated sexual act. "There is nothing to show that the children were used for pornography. There is no hint of sexuality in the video. Painting on the naked upper body of a person, whether a man or a woman, cannot be stated to be a sexually explicit act," the court said.

It further said that nude display of the upper body of men is never considered obscene or indecent and is not sexualised, but "a female body is not treated in the same way". 
&nbsp;

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The Kerala-based activist Rehana Fathima, who caught the attention with a 2020 video in which she was seen partially nude with paintings, got relief in a POCSO case on Monday.

The Kerala-based activist Rehana Fathima, who caught the attention with a 2020 video in which she was seen partially nude with paintings, got relief in a POCSO case on Monday. The Kerala High Court acquitted her, emphasising that the right to autonomy over one’s body is often denied to the fairer sex and they are bullied, discriminated against, isolated and persecuted for making choices about their bodies. In 2020, a video of Fathima went viral, showing her partially nude with paintings done by her minor children on her body. Eventually, she was arrested and her bail applications were repeatedly denied. Who is Rehana Fathima? Rehana Fathima is an Indian women’s rights activist from Kerala. She also has a background in telecommunications and modelling. She has been vocal against women’s moral policing and has participated in various protests against sexism. Fathima gained widespread attention in October 2018 when she was one of the two women who attempted to enter the Sabarimala temple in Kerala following the Supreme Court’s decision to lift the ban on women of menstruating age. She has faced legal consequences for her activism, including arrests for allegedly offensive Facebook posts. Also Read | German minister says India's submarine project yet to be completed, Berlin at good pace in race for contract She belongs to an orthodox Muslim family and she pursued her B.Com and MCA degrees from Indira Gandhi National Open University. In 2014, she participated in the controversial ‘Kiss of Love’ protest in Kochi against moral policing along with her partner Manoj K Sreedhar. What was the ‘nudity’ case? After her 2020 video went viral, she was subsequently arrested. In her appeal in the Kerala High Court, Fathima asserted that the body paintings in the video were meant as a political statement against the default view of society that the upper body of the female is sexualised. She argued that the male body is treated differently and is not objectified or sexualised. Also Read | Cyclone 'Biparjoy' to intensify in next 24 hours, here's how it will impact monsoon in India In the past, she was also booked by police in the Pathanamthitta district under the Information Technology Act and the Juvenile Justice Act on a complaint lodged by BJP OBC Morcha leader AV Arun Prakash. What did Kerala High Court say? While discharging Fathima, Kerala High Court Justice Kauser Edappagath on Monday said from the allegations against the 37-year-old activist, it was not possible for anyone to infer that her children were used for any real or simulated sexual acts and that too for sexual gratification. Also Read | Sexual molestation case: Delhi Police questions BJP MP Brij Bhushan's aides and staff The judge said it was "harsh" to term such an "innocent artistic expression" as a usage of a child in a real or simulated sexual act. "There is nothing to show that the children were used for pornography. There is no hint of sexuality in the video. Painting on the naked upper body of a person, whether a man or a woman, cannot be stated to be a sexually explicit act," the court said. It further said that nude display of the upper body of men is never considered obscene or indecent and is not sexualised, but "a female body is not treated in the same way". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who is Rehana Fathima, activist who won 'nudity’ case in Kerala High Court?

Rehana Fathima, the activist who had recently tried to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple, has been arrested by Kerala Police.&nbsp;

ANI reported that Fathima was arrested on the charge of allegedly hurting religious sentiments via a Facebook post.&nbsp;

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News reports meanwhile said that a case had been filed against Fathima on October 30 by the Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithi, a group that fights to uphold the temple's "traditions". &nbsp;

It is unclear what exactly Fathima's Facebook post had said.&nbsp;

Rehana, and a woman journalist from Hyderabad accompanying her, had finally not been able to enter Sabarimala. They had been stopped from entering by male devotees protesting the Supreme Court order allowing all women to visit Sabarimala.&nbsp;

Until the Supreme Court order overturning the social ban, Sabarimala has not allowed girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50 to visit the hill shrine in Kerala's Periyar reserve.&nbsp;

Rehana Fathima, the activist who had recently tried to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple, has been arrested by Kerala Police. ANI reported that Fathima was arrested on the charge of allegedly hurting religious sentiments via a Facebook post.

Rehana Fathima, the activist who had recently tried to enter Kerala's Sabarimala temple, has been arrested by Kerala Police. ANI reported that Fathima was arrested on the charge of allegedly hurting religious sentiments via a Facebook post. Kerala: Woman activist Rehana Fathima has been arrested by Pathanamthitta Police. The arrest was made on charges of allegedly hurting religious sentiment through a Facebook post. (file pic) pic.twitter.com/WMWoGkGIl1 — ANI (@ANI) November 27, 2018 × News reports meanwhile said that a case had been filed against Fathima on October 30 by the Sabarimala Samrakshana Samithi, a group that fights to uphold the temple's "traditions". It is unclear what exactly Fathima's Facebook post had said. Rehana, and a woman journalist from Hyderabad accompanying her, had finally not been able to enter Sabarimala. They had been stopped from entering by male devotees protesting the Supreme Court order allowing all women to visit Sabarimala. Until the Supreme Court order overturning the social ban, Sabarimala has not allowed girls and women between the ages of 10 and 50 to visit the hill shrine in Kerala's Periyar reserve.

Rehmana Fathima who tried to enter Sabarimala arrested for hurting religious sentiments

Activist Rehana Fathima, who had made an attempt to enter Sabarimala temple, has been expelled from the Muslim community for "hurting the sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees", the Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council said.

Initiating action against Rehana, Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council president A Poonkunju said in a press statement Saturday that she had been expelled from the community.

He said the Council has also directed the Ernakulam Central Muslim Jama'ath to expel her and her family from the membership of Mahallu. 
"Her act hurt lakhs of Hindu devotees," the statement said.&nbsp;

Her act was also against the rituals of Hindu community, it said.

Pookunju said Rehana, who had participated in 'Kiss of Love' agitation and acted nude in a film, "has no right to use a Muslim name".

The activist's house was allegedly vandalised by unidentified persons while she was away trying to climb the holy hills on Friday.

She made a failed attempt to reach the temple with heavy police protection.

The attackers reached Rehana's house in Panambilly Nagar here while she was climbing the hills.

Rehana, a model and activist who was part of the 'Kiss of Love' movement in Kochi in 2014 against alleged moral policing, was among the two women who had reached the hilltop, but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum following massive protests by Ayyappa devotees.

Rehana and Hyderabad-based journalist Kavitha were taken to the hills with heavy police protection.

A mother of two and employee of the BSNL, the activist had kicked up a row last year by posing for topless photos with watermelons in protest against a Kozhikode-based college professor's statement comparing women's breasts to watermelons.

Meanwhile, a case has been registered by police in Pathanamthitta against the activist for hurting religious sentiments.

The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by one Radhakrishna Menon.

On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra had lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine, but a section of devotees is protesting the decision.&nbsp;

Activist Rehana Fathima, who had made an attempt to enter Sabarimala temple, has been expelled from the Muslim community for "hurting the sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees", the Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council said.

Activist Rehana Fathima, who had made an attempt to enter Sabarimala temple, has been expelled from the Muslim community for "hurting the sentiments of lakhs of Hindu devotees", the Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council said. Initiating action against Rehana, Kerala Muslim Jama'ath Council president A Poonkunju said in a press statement Saturday that she had been expelled from the community. He said the Council has also directed the Ernakulam Central Muslim Jama'ath to expel her and her family from the membership of Mahallu. "Her act hurt lakhs of Hindu devotees," the statement said. Her act was also against the rituals of Hindu community, it said. Pookunju said Rehana, who had participated in 'Kiss of Love' agitation and acted nude in a film, "has no right to use a Muslim name". The activist's house was allegedly vandalised by unidentified persons while she was away trying to climb the holy hills on Friday. She made a failed attempt to reach the temple with heavy police protection. The attackers reached Rehana's house in Panambilly Nagar here while she was climbing the hills. Rehana, a model and activist who was part of the 'Kiss of Love' movement in Kochi in 2014 against alleged moral policing, was among the two women who had reached the hilltop, but had to return before reaching the sanctum sanctorum following massive protests by Ayyappa devotees. Rehana and Hyderabad-based journalist Kavitha were taken to the hills with heavy police protection. A mother of two and employee of the BSNL, the activist had kicked up a row last year by posing for topless photos with watermelons in protest against a Kozhikode-based college professor's statement comparing women's breasts to watermelons. Meanwhile, a case has been registered by police in Pathanamthitta against the activist for hurting religious sentiments. The case was registered on the basis of a complaint filed by one Radhakrishna Menon. On September 28, a five-judge Constitution bench of the Supreme Court, headed by then chief justice Dipak Misra had lifted the centuries-old ban on the entry of women of menstrual age into the shrine, but a section of devotees is protesting the decision.

Sabarimala: Activist Rehana expelled from Muslim community

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Who is Rehana Fathima, activist who won 'nudity’ case in Kerala High Court?

Rehmana Fathima who tried to enter Sabarimala arrested for hurting religious sentiments

Sabarimala: Activist Rehana expelled from Muslim community