National netball champion given triple talaq for giving birth to girl

"On February 9, 2014, I got married to Azam Abbasi. From the starting, my in-laws used to torture me for dowry. They used to exploit me. Every now and then, they used to ask for dowry from my father," Shumayala told ANI as her daughter kept crying waiting for her mother to take her into her arms.

"In June 2014, my father gave them Rs 2 lakh. 

For some time, they treated me well. My husband's sister even tried to put me on fire. In September, my father again deposited Rs 1 lakh in their account," she said.

"When they learnt that I was pregnant, they said they want a son and threatened me of dire consequences if I gave birth to a baby girl. They even conducted an ultrasound to know whether I was pregnant with a baby boy or a baby girl. When I was eight months pregnant, they dragged me out of their house," she added. 

"When my daughter was born, they left me stranded. My father took me to my in-laws afterwards but they threatened him as well. My father left me there. But my in-laws kept on abusing me, both physically and mentally. In April, my husband divorced me through triple talaq," she added.

She also alleged that no one helped her, not even the police or the administration. Now, Shumayala, who has participated in All India championships for four times, has decided to knock the doors of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath demanding justice.

"I have written a letter to the Prime Minister and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. I expect them to help me get justice. I urge the Prime Minister to help me in this grave situation. He should set an example for all such people, who divorce their wives through triple talaq," she said.

In his 'Mann ki Baat' program, Prime Minister Modi dubbed triple talaq as a "bad social practice", saying such practices can be ended by social awakening.

Thousands of Muslim women across the country have since formed pressure groups and spearheaded signature campaigns demanding the abolition of the practice.

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) claims Shariat upholds the validity of triple talaq - under which a Muslim husband can divorce his wife by merely pronouncing the word "talaq" three times.

Talaq or divorce can be obtained in either of two ways. Under 'talaq-ul-sunnat', there has to be a three-month period called 'iddat' between the pronouncement of talaq by a husband and a lawful separation. But 'talaq-e-bidat' authorises a man to do so in a single sitting.

The AIMPLB has issued appeals to all maulanas and imams of mosques to read out the code of conduct during Friday 'namaz' and emphasise on its implementation.

The board has made it clear that it will not tolerate any interference in the Shariat laws, and claimed that majority of the Muslims in the country do not want any change in their personal law.

Earlier this week, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister had called for an end to the practice of triple talaq and invoked the disrobing of Draupadi in the Mahabharata to emphasise his point.