A community meeting organised at the Karwaan Center of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan and discussed the Supreme Court setting aside triple talaq in its August verdict, which they felt was a historical step forward but also noted that issues like nikah halala, polygamy, custody of children, share in property etc remain unaddressed.
Women’s rights are clearly protected but unfortunately the dominance by orthodox forces have led women being denied their rights, said the muslim women participants.
They felt that the resolution lies in a comprehensive codified muslim family law. This law based on the Quran and in consonance with the Constitutional principles of justice and equality is the only solution in the long term.
Almost all muslim countries world over such as Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and even Bangladesh and Pakistan in our neighbourhood have codified personal laws governing marriage and family matters.
The BMMA demanded that polygamy be made illegal, halala an offence, age of marriage of girl to be 18 and boy 21, muta marriage should be made an offence, minimum mehr should be equivalent to full annual income of the groom etc.
Divorce: Talaak-e-Ahsan to be method of divorce requiring mandatory arbitration over a 90 day period involving both parties, said the BMMA. Other demands include equal share in property for women.