Anti-triple talaq crusader Nida Khan files police complaint against fatwa, demands FIR

BAREILLY: Anti-triple talaq activist Nida Khan, on Wednesday, filed a written complaint at the office of the senior superintendent of police, Bareilly, against three people for issuing a fatwa against her on July 16. Nida has demanded an FIR against Mufti Mohd Khurshid Alam Razvi, the imam of Bareilly Jama Masjid, Mufti Afzaal Razvi of Dargah Aala Hazrat and Sheeran Raza Khan, her husband. Police sources said they were in the process of registering the FIR. Nida, who runs an NGO for women, has been in the news for defying Muslim clerics by challenging ‘nikah halala’ and instant divorce.
“I have learnt that a copy of the fatwa is being circulated in mosques. A cleric, who has been coming to my house for prayers since childhood, recently refused to come. Even a typist outside the court here had refused to draft my application. People have been abusing and threatening me on social media. Two fake profiles were also created on Facebook to abuse me,” said Nida.

The fatwa was written by Aala Hazrat cleric Mufti Afzaal Razvi in response to a query made by Mufti Mohd Khurshid Alam Razvi.

In her complaint, Nida wrote, “I have been fighting for the rights of women who are exploited in the name of triple-talaq, non-Sharia halala and polygamy. On July 16, I learnt that my husband Sheeran Raza had issued a fatwa against me with the help of Khurshid Alam and Afzaal Razvi. The fatwa states that I have been dismissed from Islam. It also calls for my social boycott by members of the community. After the fatwa was issued, people have been looking at me and my family members with hatred. We have also been receiving life threats. This fatwa is a conspiracy to incite people into attacking us.”

Superintendent of police (city), Abhinandan Singh, said, “An order has been issued to lodge the FIR. We are taking legal opinions about suitable sections under which the accused can be booked.”

When contacted, Mufti Mohd Khurshid Alam Razvi refused to comment in the matter.

Nida was divorced by Sheeran Raza, who is from the family of the head of Aala Hazrat, through triple talaq in 2016. She had contested it in the civil court, which had declared the instant divorce as invalid. Nida had also alleged that she suffered a miscarriage after being allegedly assaulted by her husband in 2015.