An ancient part of Muslim law that is written about in the Koran, is seeing hundreds of Indian Muslim men digitally divorcing their wives, a practice apparently 92.1 women want to see banned as it gives them no rights, according to a study by Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, an organizarion that fights for Indian Muslim women’s rights.
As Gulf News reports, there has been a significant increase in these kinds of ‘digital divorces’ in recent years, whereby men merely call, text message or use social media sites such as Facebook to announce the divorce to their wives.
Women at Taj Mahal, India’s most famous Muslim-built monuments. Image Credit: Tim Moffat (Flickr)
The law that allows this is known as ‘triple talaq’ – so by repeating the word ‘talaq’ three times, a phrase meaning ‘I divorce you,’ the couple are instantly divorced.
Most Muslim countries, including the neighboring Pakistan, have outlawed this mode of instant divorce, as divorce is frowned upon in Islam. However, India, which is mainly Hindu, does not disallow it.
Thai divorce lawyerss Chaninat and Leeds are experts in handling divorce cases, both between Thai nationals and foreigners.
Co-founder of BMMA, Zakia Somani says:
“Any attempt at reforming the law is stonewalled in the name of not interfering with [Muslims’] religious matters […] They say that law is divine. We all know that law is manmade.”
India allows freedom of religion, and the government accepts minorities. However there is a push for a nationwide civil court that will cover matters under a national system, and not governed by religion.
However, minorities have concerns that a move like this will see Hindu values take to the foreground, and will override their own religious values.
Muslims in India are protected under the Muslim Personal Law, which allows clerics to apply Islamic laws on civil issues such as divorce.
See more on this story here and here.
Go here to learn about the Divorce Code of Thailand.
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