Bhatkal: Hundreds of Muslim women came out in a strong protest against the Triple Talaq bill in a programme organized by Bhatkal's most powerful NGO Majlis-e-Islah Wa Tanzeem on Wednesday.
In the program organized at the Anjuman Girls' High School, scores of Burka-clad Muslim women expressed their condemnation and opposition to the Triple Talaq bill passed in the Lok Sabha by the BJP government earlier this year. The programe was part of a nation-wide campaign by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) the most powerful Muslim body in the country.
Addressing the gathering of women, state executive member of AIMPLB Ms. Tasneem Shah Jahan said that only Shariyat protects Muslim women and interference in it won't be tolerated. She further said that the government should take this as a warning.
Dr. Asifa Nisar, another executive member of AIMPLB termed the Triple talaq Bill as a tool of harassment for women. "The bill is unconstitutional. It is part of a conspiracy hatched to destabilize the Muslim community.
"We are here to protest against the Triple Talaq Bill because it is not only anti-Muslim but also anti-human and anti-family. We are here to demand its withdrawal," said Ms. Zareena Kola, a social worker from Bhatkal. She also read out the memorandum which was addressed to the President of India, before submitting it to an aide the Assistant Commissioner.
The gathered women held placards in Urdu, English and Kannada, stating slogans such as 'Triple Talaq Bill suppress women', Take back Triple Talaq Bill', 'We are against interference in Shariah', Islamic Shariyat is our pride', 'Interference in Muslim personal laws not acceptable', triple talaq bill is parts of saffron agenda'.
"We condemn the President's remarks" - Bhatkali Muslim Women
The memorandum which was submitted to the Assistant Commissioner expressed a strong opposotion of the Triple Talaq bill and also expressed deep anguish and condemnation of President Ram Nath Kovind's remarks in which he had called Muslim women as 'captive to political cause'. "The bill was processed without consulting the top religious scholars and intellectuals of the community. After the Supreme Court's judgment dated 22/08/2017, there was no need for such a bill. The content of the bill is against the Constitution of India, it is anti-women and anti-children. The bill is anti-social as the civil contract is penalized converting civil matter into a criminal offense." The document read.
The program was started with the recitation of verses from the Holy Quran by Ms. Ayesha Fida d/o Hashmatullah Ruknaddin, while Ms. Khadeeja Tabassum d/o Jaffar Siddiqua sung a naat in a pleasant voice. Ms. Nazima Muniri managed the proceedings, acting as the Master of Cermonies.
Present of the occasion were many prominent women personalities such as relgious scholars Ms. Zeenat , Ms. Farhat and many others.
The Triple Talaq bill has been been opposed not only by AIMPLB and Muslim women, but also many secular NGOs and women activists who have pointed out serious flaws in the bill. The AIMPLB had called an emergency meeting in December 2017 in Lucknow's Darul Uloom Nadwatul Ulama. It had also sent a formal letter to the Prime Minister asking him to review the bill in consultation with AIMPLB, senior clerics and organisations working for women.
Pointing out some major flaws in the bill, the Board had said that as the Supreme Court had made instant triple talaq invalid, it ceased to exist and hence should not call for criminalisation. The Board had also questioned the three year jail term and the provision of third party complaint leading to a case of instant triple talaq to be registered, saying that it can be misused and will result in social chaos.