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