Woman writes to Modi, seeks end to triple talaq

Patna: A Muslim woman in Bihar has made an impassioned appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately ban the Islamic practice of ‘triple Talaq” after she was divorced instantly via a mobile phone at the weekend.

The woman has threatened to commit suicide if justice is not served in her case.

The Narendra Modi government has already argued that the practice of triple talaq has no place in a secular country, in an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court last October.

Now, a five-judge Constitution bench of India’s apex court is scheduled to hear the petitions challenging the Islamic practices of triple talaq, Nikah halala and polygamy from May 11 during the summer vacation.

Biwi Rukhsar, a resident of Bhagalpur district, was divorced by her husband Mohammad Shah Alam in a phone call last week.

Reports quoting the woman’s family sources said Alam called up his mother-in-law and asked her to give the mobile phone to his wife.

The moment she picked up the call, he allegedly uttered talaq more than 10 times, saying he didn’t want to stay with her anymore.

He cited no reason, family members said.

The call came from Gujarat where Alam currently stays, working in a private company. His wife who has a four-year-old son stays with her parents in Bhagalpur town.

The matter came to light after the victim’s parents filed a written complaint with the local “Gram Kutchery” (village court), seeking justice for her daughter.

Acting on the compliant, the local Sarpanch (an elected village representative having small judicial power) Varun Goswami visited Alam’s home, talked to his family members and then called him up on his cell phone, trying to mediate in the matter, but the latter refused.

“He enjoys the privilege to divorce his wife by saying talaq under Islamic law. There is no point in moving the court over the issue. Even the court can’t do anything in this matter,” the Sarpanch quoted Alam having told him over phone. Subsequently, he returned home, disappointed.

But, the woman was not ready to take the thing lying down.

“I don’t accept a law which destroys the family lives of Muslim women. Law is meant for protecting their humanity, not to destroy them. I want justice,” she told journalists, sobbing inconsolably.

She urged the Narendra Modi government to instantly ban this law.

“I will meet the president and the prime minister to seek justice.

“I want to live with dignity. I will meet the PM and demand the end of triple talaq as quickly as possible. I will commit suicide if not given the justice,” she threatened.

“Modiji [Mr Modi] please ban this law soon. It’s ruining lives of Muslim women,” she said.