Muslim Men for Gender Justice Support Demand for Abolition of Triple Talaq and Nikah-Halala As Practiced In India
Muslim
Men for Gender Justice
June 8,
2016
PRESS
STATEMENT: In support of the demand for abolition of triple Talaq and Nikah-Halala
as practiced in India
We, the
undersigned, believe that gender equality and justice are human rights issues
which must be as much a matter of concern for men as for women. If anything, it
is more so men’s obligation to cry a halt to patriarchy, particularly when it
is sought to be perpetuated in the name of God.
We
therefore fully support the campaign launched by the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila
Andolan (BMMA) and other Muslim organisations and individuals for the abolition,
and declaration as illegal, of triple talaq (instant divorce) and Nikah Halala as
being practiced in India. We salute BMMA for its initiative in collecting 50,000
signatures from across the country in support of their demand, as also the Muslim
women victims of instant divorce who are seeking justice from the Supreme Court
of India.
While the
triple Talaq method of instant divorce is today banned in more than 21 Muslim
majority countries, including Pakistan, it continues to be justified by the Ulema
in India as legally valid, even though theologically repugnant.
We
categorically reject the false claim of the Ulema that what goes in the name of
Muslim Personal Law in India is a “God-given” law. As BMMA has rightly pointed out,
there is no mention of the inhuman, unjust and anti-women instant Talaq practice
in the Quran. In fact, the Quran clearly stipulates an obligatory three-month period
during which attempts must be made at reconciliation and mediation before
severing of the marital bond.
Equally,
triple Talaq violates the Constitutional principles of gender parity and non-discrimination.
Thus this obnoxious instant divorce practice is both un-Quranic and
un-Constitutional.
The Ulema
who proudly proclaim that Islam is the first religion to have given rights to
women are duty bound to ensure justice to women. We bemoan the fact that instead
of doing so they continue to justify the Muslim male’s privilege of unilateral
and instant divorce, often on a mere whim or fit of anger.
As for
Nikah-Halala, the way this Quranic position is misconstrued and misused in
India is a shameful practice which is extremely degrading for women. Even if a husband
utters the dread words ‘Talaq, Talaq, Talaq’ in a fit of anger but
regrets the same immediately thereafter, according to the Ulema there is only
one way for the couple to resume their relationship. Another man must marry the
divorced woman, consummate the marriage and then divorce her so that she may remarry
her former husband.
BMMA has
even documented some cases where Qazis not only justify and legitimise
Nikah-Halala, but even offer their own “services” as temporary husbands. What
could be more disgraceful than this?
The least
we expect from the Ulema who have proved themselves unwilling and incapable of
ending the shameful, anti-women practices of instant divorce and Nikah-Halala
is to stop perpetuating patriarchy in the name of religion.
The word
Ulema is supposed to mean a body of Muslim scholars who are recognised as
having specialist knowledge of Islamic sacred law and theology. We demand that
the Ulema in India live up to that definition. They must stop making a mockery
of their honorific and demonising Islam in the process.
Signatories
in Alphabetical Order:
1. A.
Amiruddin, Retired Professor, Madras Medical College, Chennai
2. A.
Fatimi, Professor, Allahabad University
3. A.
Jawad, Advocate, Chennai
4. A.
Contractor, Professor and Dean, College of Engineering, Dhofar
University,
Salalah, Oman
5. Aamil
Shaikh, Businessman, Mumbai
6. Abbas
Shamael Rizvi, Cinematographer, Photographer, Filmmaker
7. Abde
Mannan Yusuf
8. Abdul
Azeem, Social activist, Delhi
9.
Abdulbhai, Social Activist, Madurai
10. Abdul
Mabood, Research scholar, AMU, Aligarh
11. Abdul
Rauf Khan, Retd director, Rajasthan Education Board, Ajmer
12. Abdul
Rauf Shaikh, Retired government officer, Mumbai.
13. Abdul
Qader Mukadam, Social activist, Commentator, Mumbai
14. Abdul
Qadri, Media Professional, Mumbai
15. Abdul
Rais Khan , Retired station superintendent, Railways, Aligarh
16. Abu
Bakht, Advocate, Allahabad
17. Adil
Rauf Khan Software Engineer, TCS, Sydney and AMU alumnus
18. Afaque
Azad, Sound Engineer
19. Ajmal
Hasan, IT executive, Bengaluru
20. Akbar
Joseph, Assistant professor, AMU, Aligarh
21. Akbar
Monye, Refrigeration business, Mumbai
22. Akbar
Shaikh, Social activist, Sholapur
23. Ali
Javed (Dr), Professor, Delhi University
24. Akram
Khan, Industrialist, Pune
25. Akram
Salmani, Hair stylist, Mumbai
26. Ali,
Hardware engineer, Mumbai
27. Ali
Asghar, Social activist, Hyderabad
28. Ali
Lokhandwala, Builder, Mumbai
29.
Amirullah (Dr), Assistant professor AMU, Aligarh
30. Amir
Athar, Allahabad
31. Amir
Rizvi: Communication designer, Mumbai
32. Amir
Sheikh, Social Activist, Pune
33. Anis
Shaikh, Automobile engineer, UAE
34. Anjum
Rajabali, Screen writer, Mumbai
35. Anvar
Rajan, Social activist, Pune
36. Anwar
Hussain: Corporate executive, Mumbai
37. Anwar
Shaikh, Retired police officer, Pune
38. Anwar
Sheikh, Professor, Pune
39. Arif
Parvaz,
40.
Arif-ul-Islam, Professor, Dept. of Stats. & O.R., AMU, Aligarh
41. Asad
Khan, Allahabad
42. Asad ur
Rahman Kidwai, Delhi
43. Aseem
Hasnain, Professor, USA
44. Asif
Rauf Khan Engineer, Wipro, Noida
45. Asim
Siddiqui, Professor, AMU, Aligarh
46. Ashraf
Syed (Dr), Ayurvedic, Pune
47. Aslam
(Dr), Professor, Allahabad University.
48. Aslam
Khan, Political activist, Delhi
49. Aslam
Khan, Social worker, Mumbai
50. Asrar
Boqari, Student, Bengaluru
51. Asshar
Farhan, Computer analyst, Hyderabad
52. Ayaz
Memon, Senior journalist, Mumbai
53. Azhar
Kazi, MBA professional, Mumbai
54. Azhar
Khan, Social activist, Jalgaon
55. Bashir
Mujawar, Journalist, Pune
56. Basheer
Sheikh, Retired govt. servant, Pune
57. Burhaan
Basheer, Research scholar, AMU, Aligarh
58. Danish
Siddiqui, Research Scholar, AMU, Aligarh
59.
Dilawar, Electrical engineer, UAE
60. Dilawar
Sheikh, Advocate, Wai, Satara
61. F. M.
Shajinde, Publisher, Latur
62. Faiz
Ahmad, Education consultant, Chennai
63. Faiz
Ahmad, Service, Ghaziabad, UP
64. Faizan
Khan, Industrialist, Pune
65. Faraz
Ahmad, Freelance journalist, Delhi
66. Farhan
Rahman, Research scholar, Ranchi
67. Farouk
Mapkar, Social activist, Mumbai
68. Feroze
Abbas Khan: Theatre director, Mumbai
69. Feroze
Mithiborwala, Social activist, Mumbai
70. Firoz
Ashraf, Social activist, journalist, Mumbai
71. Gauhar
Raza, Scientist, poet, social activist, film maker, Delhi
72. Ghulam
Mohiyuddin Faruki, Physician
73. H. M.
Mustafa, Social Activist, Calicut
74. Hamid
Ali, Business, Rampur, UP
75. Hamza
Safina Taufiq, MBA, Saudi Arabia
76. Hasan
Kamaal: Senior journalist, poet, lyricist, Mumbai
77. Hasan
Pasha Ibrahim, Writer, journalist, Bengaluru.
78. Hilal
Ahmed (Dr), Asst. professor, CSDS, Delhi
79. Hummam,
Research Scholar, AMU, Aligarh
80. Hunaid
Wajihi, CA student, Pune
81. Husain
Ahmed, Businessman, Pune
82. Husain
Kanchwala, Engineer, Pune
83. Huzaifa
Dilawar, Interior designer, Pune
84. Imran
Khan, Assistant general manager, Delhi
85. Imran
Sheikh, Computer specialist, Pune
86. Imtiyaz
Shaikh, Contractor, Mumbai
87. I.N.
Baig, Journalist, Nipani, Karnataka
88. Iqbal
Niazi, Playwright, Mumbai
89. Irfan
Ahmad, Service, Engineer, Vadodara, Gujrat
90. Irfan
Engineer, Social activist, Mumbai
91. Irfan
Khan, Web master, Mumbai
92. Irshad
Ahmad, Lucknow
93. J.
Thajudeen, Entrepreneur, Karaikal, Pondicherry
94. Jafar
Mukri, Businessman, Mumbai
95. Jamal
Kidwai, Social activist, Delhi
96. Javed
Anand: Social activist, journalist, Mumbai
97. Javed
Siddiqi: (Screen/dialogue writer, playwright), Mumbai
98. K.
Moulasha, Program Manager, Praxis Institute, Chennai
99. K.
Mohammed Abdul Kader, Assistant professor, Chennai
100. K.
Seyadh Gani – Hotel Manager, Karaikal, Pondicherry
101. K.
Sheikh Ismail - Entrepreneur, Karaikal, Pondicherry
102. Kader
Qazi: Creative director, Television, Mumbai
103. Kareem
Ansari, Social activist, Hyderabad
104. Kareem
Sait, Businessman, Chennai
105. Kashif
Hasan, Writer, Kolkatta
106. Kasim
Sait, Businessman, Chennai
107. Khalil
Deshmukh, Social Activist, Jalgaon
108. Khanbhai,
Garage owner, Mumbai
109.
Komoruzzaman Ahmed, Retired engineer, Social Worker. Guwahati
110. Latif
Shaikh, TV actor, Mumbai
111.
Liyakat Kazi, Driver, Mumbai
112. M.
Mohammed Sabeer, Salesman, Karaikal, Pondicherry
113. Mazhar
Kamran, Documentary films, cinematographer, Mumbai
114. Manzar
Usmani, Patna
115. Majid
Moulvi, Businessman, Pune
116.
Mehboob Sheikh, Social Activist, Pune
117. Mehdi
Bakht, School principal, Varanasi
118. Minaj
Sayyad, Social activist and businessman, Satara
119. Mir
Jeelan Hussain, Student, Bengaluru
120.
Mohammad Khalique, Entrepreneur, (Delhi)
121.
Mohammed Ghouse Laik, Social Activist, Nipani, Karnataka
122.
Mohammad Imran, Social Activist, USA
123.
Mohammad Rauf, Social Activist, Lucknow
124. Mohd.
Sabit Hasan (Dr), Opthalmologist, Champaran, Bihar
125. Mohd.
Amir, Service, Ghaziabad
126. Mohd.
Asif, Service, Ghaziabad, UP
127. Mohd.
Umar, Businessman, Ghaziabad, UP
128.
Moinullah Khan, Businessman, Chennai
129. Mufid
Sheikh, Businessman, Pune
130. Muhib
ul haq (Dr), Associate professor AMU, Aligarh
131.
Mujtaba Lokhandwala, Author, trainer, activist, Pune
132. Munir
Mulla, Social activist, Sangli
133. Munir
Syed, Social Activist, Panvel
134. Munir
Tamboli, Reformist, Baramati
135. Mushir
Ahmed, Engineer, Allahabad
136.
Mustafa Kayamkhani, Businessman, Coimbatore
137. N.M.
Qureshi, Electrical engineer, Indore
138. N. P.
Ashley, Assistant professor, St. Stephen's College, Delhi
139.
Nadeem, Driver, Aligarh
140. Nadeem
Hasnain (Dr), Editor, Islam and Muslim Societies, Lucknow
141.
Nasiruddin Haider Khan, Journalist, Lucknow
142. Nisar
Ansari, Accounts head, Mumbai
143. Nisar
Solanki, Churu, Rajasthan
144. Noorul
Islam, Allahabad
145. P. A.
Kader, Social activist, Mangalore
146.
Parvez, Librarian, AMU, Aligarh
147. Rafiq
Mulani, Social activist
148. Rahman
Abbas: Fiction writer, Mumbai
149. Rais
Ahmed, Businessman, Allahabad
150. Rais
Ahmad, Service, Ghaziabad (UP)
151.
Raisuddin, Service, Ghaziabad, UP
152. Rashid
Ali, Social Activist, Hyderabad
153. Rashid
Nehal (Dr) , Director, Kishanganj Centre, AMU
154. Rashid
Sheikh, Banking, Pune
155. Raza
Hasnain, former IAS, country head, Cargill India
156. Resul
Pookutty, Oscar Award Winner, Sound design
157. Rizwan
Khan, Teacher, Lucknow
158. S.
Amir Bashir, Allahabad
159. S.Q.
Masood, Social activist, Hyderabad
160. S.F.A.
Naqvi, Advocate, Allahabad
161. Saadat
Ullah Qureshi, Engineer, Rajasthan Electricity Board
162. Sabir
Ali, Service, Ghaziabad, UP
163. Sabir
Khan, Jaipur
164. Sadat
Ali Khan Zai, Professor, Bangalore University
165.
Sadiqu-ur-Rahman Kidwai, Retired professor, Delhi
166.
Sadruddin Sheikh, Trustee, Shadvel Dargah, Pune
167. Saeed
Mirza: Film-maker, Mumbai
168. Sahil,
Jaipur
169. Saif
Kidwai, Journalist, Delhi
170. Saleem
Khandba, Advocate, social activist, Bhiwandi
171. Saleem
Kidwai, Lucknow
172. Saleem
Parvez, Service, Delhi
173. Salim
Pinjari, Journalist, Pune
174. Salim
Sheikh, Turner & die maker, Pune
175. Salim
Sheikh, Advocate, Paltan, Satara
176.
Sallaudin Moosa, Operation head, BPO, Mumbai
177. Salman
Shaikh, TV actor, Mumbai
178. Sameer
Dilawar Shaikh, Social activist
179. Samir
Ahmed, Jaipur
180. Samta
Nadeem, Lighting designer, Mumbai
181. Shabi
Hashmi
182. Shadab
Arab, Research Scholar, Mumbai
183. Shadab
Rashid (Editor, Urdu magazine, Naya Warq) , Mumbai
184.
Shafaat Khan, Marathi playwright, Mumbai
185. Shaikh
Mohammed Hussain, Social activist, Mumbai
186.
Shahbaz Khan, Social worker, Mumbai
187.
Shahnawaz Alam, Teacher, Allahabad
188.
Shaibaaz Mulla, Business, Mumbai
189. Shakil
Ahmed, Advocate, social activist, Mumbai
190. Shamim
Abbas, Urdu poet, Mumbai
191.
Shamsul Islam, Academic, social activist, Delhi
192. Sharuk
Khan, Businessman, Jaipur
193. Sohail
Akbar, Ass. Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
194. Sohail
Ishaq, Office assistant, AMU, Aligarh
195. Sufian
Syed, Marketing, Abu Dhabi
196. Sultan
Shahin, Editor, New Age Islam, Delhi
197. Syed A
R Zaidi, Retired professor,
198. Syed
Ata Hasnain (Lieutenant general, retired)
199. Syed
Mehboob Shah Qadri, Reformist, Pune
200. Syed
Riyaz Rahim, Urdu poet, Mumbai
201.
Taizoon Khorakiwala, Businessman, Mumbai
202. Talat
Jaani, Film & TV director, Mumbai
203.
Tanveer Ajsi, Arts professional, Bangalore
204. Tanvir
Aeijaz, Associate professor, University of Delhi
205. Tanvir
Sheikh, Engineering student, Pune
206.
Tarique Iqbal, CEO, Mumba Books India, Mumbai
207. Usman
Ali, Business, Rampur, UP
208. Umar
Aman, Student, Delhi
209. Usman
Dhamaskar, Businessman, Mumbai
210. Usman
Mehandi, Student, Purkazi,
211. Waseem
A Mullah, Blogger/writer, Jharkhand
212. Wasim
Qureshi, Information technology, Jaipur
213. Yousuf
Saeed, Filmmaker/writer, New Delhi
214. Yusuf
Parmar (Haji), Social activist, Mumbai
215. Zaan
Khan, TV actor, Mumbai
216.
Zabiullaha, Service (retd.), Ghaziabad, UP
217. Zafar
Bakht, PIPFPD, Allahabad
218. Zafer
Ali Khan Zai, Physician, Mysuru
219. Zafer
Mohiuddin, Playwright, Karnataka
220.
Zia-ul-Haq, Social activist, Allahabad
221. Zaheer
Ahmed Sayeed (Dr.), Neurologist, Chennai
222. Zaheer
Mirzaa, Creative director, Advertising
223. Zahid
Ali, TV actor, Mumbai
224. Zahir
Sheikh, Advocate Paltan, Satara
225. Zakir
Attar, Advocate, Pune
226. Zakir
Maniar, Advocate, Pune
227. Zubair
Shaikh, Student, Mumbai
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/islamic-society/muslim-men-for-gender-justice/muslim-men-for-gender-justice-support-demand-for-abolition-of-triple-talaq-and-nikah-halala-as-practiced-in-india/d/107564