Muslim women take out march against triple talaq

JAIPUR: Protesting against the proposed Triple Talaq bill, Muslim women took out a silent march in the city on Wednesday. They demanded that the Centre must reject the bill immediately.
The bill is a draconian one and it is aimed at destroying homes of Muslims in the name of empowering women, the protesters alleged.

"It was 1,400 year ago when Muslim women became empowered. They were given every right. Now, the situation has come when lakhs of women in Jaipur came out of their houses showing that they are empowered and coming out of the houses for protecting their rights and their houses," said Yasmeen Farooqui, member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board.

The march started from Char Darwaza and it culminated at Muslim Musafirkhana. But, the roads from Moti Doongri to Sangeri Gate to Ramganj Chauper remained bustling with Muslim women protesting silently and peacefully. They were clearly signalling that are against triple talaq bill.

Women also alleged that it is a desperate attempt to destroy houses of Muslims by creating divide between Muslim men and Muslim women. At a time, when the Supreme Court pronounced triple talaq as unconstitutional, then there is no such scope left for framing such laws.

"Under the proposed bill, if someone gives triple talaq to his wife, then he will get three years of imprisonment. It will be non-bailable offence. If husband will be sent to jail for three years, his wife, sisters, mother and children who are dependent on him, will face difficulties in leading their life. When triple talaq is unconstitutional, and divorce will now not legal through triple talaq, why there is a need for such laws," she said.

Another woman Mumtaz Khan said, "There are only handful of women who appealed against triple talaq and it is wrong to consider the voice of handful of Muslim women as a voice of whole Muslim women. We are against this triple talaq bill."

The march was organised by All India Muslim Personal law board as a series of silent marches have been organised in different parts the country. The women, majority of them clad in burkha, claimed that it is the time when they have decided to come out to protect their right. Women's wing of AIMPLB claimed that the bill is anti-sharia. It talks about empowerment of women but in reality it will destroy houses.