India, March 8 -- A group of young Muslim women, under the banner of Secular Young Muslim Women's Collective, published their manifesto with their demands in the lead-up to the general elections on Thursday. Sabah Khan, co-founder of Parcham Collective, a football programme that brings Muslim and non-Muslim girls together to learn the sport, and a member of the Collective, said, "Our aim is not only to pitch the needs of our community to political parties, but also assert our identity as secular feminist young Muslim women - visible and confident enough to voice our demands."

Over a period of time women from the community have expressed the need for such a move among themselves. At a two-day meeting held in the city in December, 40 to 50...