Muslim women shared their experiences of pain and injustice at a conference ‘Daughters of Islam demanding justice’ at Thrust auditorium in Bhartendu Natya Akademi on Sunday. The conference was organised by Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) that works for the rights of minority women.
“We strongly believe that while Quran has bestowed umpteen rights upon women, these rights do not get reflected in the law as practiced in the country. In order to restore Quranic rights and incorporate them in the law, we want to seek expert opinion in this matter,” said Naish Hasan, president BMMA.
The experts, including women rights activists, lawyers, prominent members of the community and social activists who participated in the event, unanimously agreed that the root cause of problems faced by the women of the community is low literacy rate and lack of codified laws for the protection of their rights. As a result, talaq (divorce) continues to be an oral diktat and the women are made to suffer due to lack of any proper registration of marriage.
Charu Wali Khanna, member of the National Women’s Commission (NWC) said, “Rights of minority women is strong on the agenda of the commission as they are the doubly deprived sections of the society. The NWC strongly feels that codification of Muslim laws be made, triple talaq should be banned and marriage registration be made compulsory.”
{{/usCountry}}Charu Wali Khanna, member of the National Women’s Commission (NWC) said, “Rights of minority women is strong on the agenda of the commission as they are the doubly deprived sections of the society. The NWC strongly feels that codification of Muslim laws be made, triple talaq should be banned and marriage registration be made compulsory.”
{{/usCountry}}She said that the NWC would also welcome an ideal nikahnama to be taken forward for a consent. The objective of holding the event was to understand the Muslim law as it is practiced in India and identify the gaps that exist between the Quranic ideals and the practice of law, said Sabra Habib, a woman activist. The conference demanded steps to provide long-term legal relief to Muslim women.