Muslim women could soon gain another victory, if the Union Government is successful in implementing a new Haj policy that could enable women above 45 to make the pilgrimage in a group of four or more without a male chaperone, also known as mehram (husband or a male relative).

A prominent city non-profit called Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) held a conference to raise awareness about the government’s proposal. The IMSD went further though, saying that the Saudi government should do away with the requirement of mehram altogether. The IMSD is hoping to raise awareness and, with that, pressure on Saudi Arabia to do away with the Mehram rule.