Muslim women demand ban on triple talaq

The Bhartiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) Monday demanded a ban on verbal talaq and stern action against clerics who advocate the practice.

The annual BMMA convention attended by women from 12 states who had been affected by the so-called triple talaq unanimously resolved to ask for the codification of Muslim personal law.

"We demand that the state take steps to ban triple talaq. We would also want the government to take legal action against any qazi who is found to promote triple talaq," BMMA founder member Zakia Soman said.

BMMA demanded an end to the unilateral pronouncement of talaq and the mandatory presence of an arbitrator for all divorce proceedings.

The organisation's proposed Talaq-e-Ahsaan does away with verbal talaq, and lays down that any rule or interpretation of Muslim law pre-dating the commencement of the the new law would cease to have effect.

Participants at the conclave shared their personal experiences as they discussed the way forward for the women of the community. Many of those who attended had been given talaq for frivolous reasons that included, in one case, an allegation that the woman's eyesight was weak.

Andolan members also demanded that the clergy stop delivering fatwas on talaq. "They should refrain from issuing fatwas... The Madhya Pradesh High Court had asked the Masjid committee to refrain from delivering verdicts in talaq cases or issue fatwas related to marriage and divorce," BMMA national council member Safia Akhtar said.

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