Thousands of Muslim women from Panvel, Navi Mumbai and Raigad district gathered outside the Panvel Tehsildar’s office on Tuesday and held a silent protest against the triple talaq bill passed by the Lok Sabha.
Mufti Abdullah Dolare, president, Panvel Ulama Committee, said, “The Supreme Court has passed an order saying that triple talaq is unconstitutional. Then what was the need to criminalise it? If the man is arrested and put behind bars for three years, who will look after his family and provide them maintenance?”
Sumaiya Noumani, whose father is a member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said, “We believe that the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017, was passed in haste. It was processed without consulting religious scholars and intellectuals of the community. The Bill is against the Constitution, and is anti-women and anti-children. The matter is also anti-social as a civil contract is penalised by converting a civil matter into a criminal offence.”
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Ms. Noumani said she was hurt that President Ram Nath Kovind said that ‘Muslim women were captive to political cause’ while addressing the joint session of Parliament. She said, “Such remarks are direct insult and attack on our community. We condemn the approach of the present government made through remarks of the President. We demand that the statement be expunged and government stop hurting the sentiments of the minority community. We believe in our Sharia law and trust the words mentioned in it.”
A charter of demands was handed over to the Panvel Tehsildar and copies of it will be sent to the Raigad District Collector, the President and the Prime Minister.