Monday 25 December 2017

Make Triple Talaq Punishable But Not Criminal Offence:

Make Triple Talaq Punishable But Not Criminal Offence: 

Muslim Women Ahead of Bill
Speaking on the important gender-just provisions that should 

be included in the Bill, Zakia Soman from BMMA said that the 

purpose of this Bill is gender justice, “Criminalization in itself 

cannot serve the objective.”
Eram Agha | News18.comEramAgha

Updated:December 26, 2017, 9:27 AM IST 

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Make Triple Talaq Punishable But Not Criminal Offence: 

Muslim Women Ahead of Bill The Supreme Court had struck 

down triple talaq terming it 'unconstitutional'. (Network18 

Creatives)
New Delhi: Two days before tabling of the Muslim Women Bill 

in Parliament, some women who came out against triple talaq 

believe that criminalizing the practice won’t get them gender 

justice, instead the law would only be a ploy for the 

government to target Muslim men. 

However, other victims of the triple talaq practice beg to 

disagree.


Muslim women activists who fought in the Supreme Court and 

had suffered because of the un-Islamic practice argue that 

criminalization “cannot serve the objective” as marriage is a 

civil matter. 

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 

2017 will be tabled in the Lok Sabha on December 28, 2017 

and Ravi Shankar Prasad will introduce the Bill to “protect the 

rights of married Muslim women” and stop the practice of 

instant triple talaq. 

Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), one of the 

petitioners in the case titled Muslim Women's Quest for 

Equality, says that the Bill should be referred to the Standing 

Committee of the Parliament and amendments should be 

made.

Speaking on the important gender-just provisions that should 

be included in the Bill, Zakia Soman from BMMA said that the 

purpose of this Bill is gender justice, “Criminalization in itself 

cannot serve the objective.”

Recognizing the importance of deterrence in law, the group 

further demands, “The deterrence in this law should be 

guided by the other progressive laws such as the bigamy law, 

dowry law or the law against domestic violence. Marriage is a 

civil matter and there is punishment. It should be treated like 

that and there should be a fear of punishment,” said BMMA.

Citing an example of the bigamy law of Section 494 of the IPC, 

Soman said bigamy is a non-cognizable but bailable offence. 

“Violation of the triple talaq law should invite penalty and 

punishment accordingly and proportionately,” Soman said.

However, triple talaq victim Arshiya Ismail, who is the chief 

training officer in a Army College, said, “Marriage is a civil act 

but instant triple talaq should be criminal. If that does not 

happen, men will always find a way out.”

Ishtar Jehan, who is the crusader against instant triple talaq 

hailing from Bengal, also believes it should be treated as a civil 

matter.

Nazia Elahi Khan, Ishtar Jehan's lawyer said, “The 

punishment for triple talaq should be stricter, preferably as a 

civil matter because there are provisions. The culprit should 

be put behind bars at least for three years and the Bill should 

make sure instant triple talaq is punishable.”

“The Bill should lay down the procedure of divorce as per the 

talaq-e-ehsan method involving reconciliation and mediation 

between husband and wife over a period of at least 90 days. 

Besides, in case of divorce following this procedure, the wife 

should be provided financial support for herself and her 

children,” added Soman.

The Muslim women groups have been calling for a codified 

Muslim family law based on the Quran and compliant with the 

Constitutional provisions.

“This would enable Muslim women to get gender justice in 

family matters. The Muslim women must get legal parity just 

like Hindu women and Christian women through codified law,” 

added Soman.

Bebaak Collective, one of the women’s rights groups who 

favoured a law against triple talaq on December 21, 2017 

spoke out against the criminalization of instant triple talaq. The 

Bill, in their opinion is a vicious ploy of the BJP government to 

criminalize Muslim men with the new law. 

Formulated in the name of safeguarding women’s rights, the 

Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill fails in 

its primary mission. Activists of Bebaak Collective that was one 

of the interveners in the Supreme Court case, say, “If this law 

is passed, it will not only criminalize Muslim men but adversely 

affect Muslim women and children, whose survival will be at 

stake.”

Rivals whet knife to slice Centre’s triple talaq Bill
By Amit Agnihotri, Manish Anand and Richa Sharma  |  Express News Service  |   Published: 26th December 2017 08:00 AM  |  

Last Updated: 26th December 2017 08:00 AM  |   A+A A-   |  

Triple talaq, muslim, women, burkha, burqa,
NEW DELHI: The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, is expected to generate much heat when Parliament’s winter session resumes after the Christmas break on Wednesday.

With the Bill likely to be introduced in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, the Opposition is preparing to target the government for rushing a sensitive legislation that criminalises triple talaq, imposes a prison term of up to three years on husbands who violate the law and slaps a fine on them.

The objective of the Bill, which has been circulated among MPs, is to ensure the larger constitutional goals of gender justice and gender equality of married Muslim women and promote their fundamental rights to non-discrimination and empowerment.



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But the Opposition has refused to buy this. While the Congress and the Left parties say the issue is sensitive and needs wider public consultation, the Samajwadi Party, which has a strong voter base among Muslims in Uttar Pradesh, feels the BJP is pushing the legislation for electoral gain.

The Rashtriya Janata Dal, which banks heavily on Muslim votes in Bihar, has accused the BJP of playing “dog-whistle politics” in the garb of gender justice. The Biju Janata Dal has asked for clarity on the three-year jail term provision.The BJP is, however, confident that the Bill will be passed in the Lok Sabha by a voice vote. “The BJP national executive in Bhubaneshwar had decided that the government must intervene to address the plight of Muslim women and ensure they are not exploited. The Bill will be instrumental in unleashing reforms in the minority community,” said a BJP leader.

Senior Congress leader Shakeel Ahmed told Express: “The government is rushing the Bill that deals with a very sensitive issue. It should first discuss the matter with all parties and community leaders to evolve a consensus.”

CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP Mohammed Salim said the Bill was a social piece of legislation with wide implications and should be referred to a standing committee so that there is wider consultation with stakeholders, including women.

“There has been no consultation process. The Supreme Court has already given a verdict and when it is already illegal, why is the government criminalising it? Moreover, triple talaq is not a rampant problem that has superseded issues like poverty, women trafficking and illiteracy. It’s just a core political game by the BJP to project the entire opposition is against it.”

CPI leader D Raja said: “In India, we have a system of standing committees scrutinising important legislations. After that, the legislation comes back to the Lok Sabha. There is a second scrutiny if needed by a Rajya Sabha standing committee, which can give a different view. It’s just a political gimmick done in a hurry with some prejudiced view,” said Raja.

RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha said: “The SC order banning instant triple talaq had sent the right message to the community. But the BJP is trying to play dog-whistle politics that exposes its shallow concern for Muslims.”Samajwadi Party member Javed Ali Khan said: “More than protecting the interests of Muslim women, the Bill aims to make Hindu fanatics happy.”

Provisions of the bill

The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 criminalises instant triple talaq, making it a cognizable offence
Proposes that the practice will be a non-bailable offence
Husbands who violate the provisions will get a jail term of three years and fine
Provides for ‘subsistence allowance’ to a woman who has been given instant triple talaq, and grants her the custody of minor children

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