Muslim women gear up against triple talaq: RSS

Raising the most vexed issue of triple talaq, which is being challenged by the women of the community themselves, the RSS through an article in The Organiser, opined that a voice has emerged within the Muslim society to placate the miserable condition of women in their community. 

Challenging the established customs that lead to exploitation and expulsion of Muslim women, Shayra Bano of Uttarakhand pained at one-sided talaq by her husband, ending the 15 year-long wedlock, filed a petition before the Supreme Court to ban the triple talaq. 

The court is hearing the matter of triple talaq, which the dominant section of the community considers as a matter of religious pride, said the article. 

The article published in ‘The Organiser’ opined that the role of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) was a major bone of contention, which was challenging Shayra’s plea to fuel passions of those, who want to cite Shariat for everything. Shayra Bano (42), a married Muslim woman with two children, was divorced by her husband abruptly when she had gone to her mothers’ place to get relief from the immense physical and mental harassment, inflicted by her husband. 

Through her plea, Shayra has questioned the legal validity of triple talaq, which also questioned the constitutional validity of Article 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act 1937, which under Shariat validates polygamy, triple talaq, niqal and halala. 

Challenging the Article, Shayra has pleaded the provisions as anti-women and anti-human rights and cited examples from many Muslim countries, where polygamy was banned legally. 

The article further said that enthused with the exemplary courage of Shayra Bano, several Muslim women have raised their voice in her support. 

Quoting the opinion of some of the prominent Muslims, the magazine said that Maulana Azad Educational Foundation treasurer Naheed Zafar opines that Muslims adopt double standard and said that for marriage and divorce purpose, Muslims in India deal through Sharia laws, but when it comes to property rights, they approach the regular courts.