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It’s a practice most of the Muslim world has left behind, but in the few places that allow “triple talaq” divorces – where the husband says “I divorce you” three times to legally dissolve the marriage – the practice is often abused. Stories of women receiving those three words in succession, whether verbally, written on paper, or even using SMS text messaging, are far too common. ” I was shocked,” remarked Nasreen, an Indian woman who abuse from her husband followed by a piece of paper with the word talaq (divorce) written three times. “My first worry was shelter for my kids.” (She has been fighting the move for six years with the help of a Muslim women’s welfare organization.) Last week, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board drafted new divorce laws that seek to eliminate indiscriminate annulment using “triple talaq”, along with proposing to amend land ownership laws to protect inheritance rights for Muslim women. “Triple talaq is certainly not he best way to separate,” explained board counsel Zafaryab Jilani, “and that this clearly spelt out in the Qur’an.” “[Triple talaq] is not part of Koranic law,” argues Islamic scholar Dr. Zeenat Shaukat Ali. “Countries like Pakistan, Turkey, Tunisia, and Indonesia shelved it long ago.” Muslim leaders hope to prescribe alternative separation and divorce rules (the largest change being a “waiting period” of three months), while also working towards gender equity regardless of whether the husband or wife initiates the divorce. The board is working on a new nikahnaama (marriage contract) that enshrines the new rules and that must be signed by couples before marriage. However, the moves drew protests from those who wish to preserve male privilege, as 80 dissenting scholars called for resistance to the new rules. “If the board goes ahead with the proposal then a nationwide agitation is on the cards,” said Syed Noori, who opposes the move.
Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.
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