Accessibility links

Breaking News

India Bans Traditional Muslim 'Instant' Divorce


An Indian Muslim woman prepares fruit salad with which she along with her family breaks their day-long fast during Ramadan at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India, Friday, June 1, 2018. Muslims across the world are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
An Indian Muslim woman prepares fruit salad with which she along with her family breaks their day-long fast during Ramadan at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India, Friday, June 1, 2018. Muslims across the world are observing the holy fasting month of Ramadan. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)
India Bans Traditional Muslim 'Instant' Divorce
please wait

No media source currently available

0:00 0:03:55 0:00

The Indian government has approved a measure to help enforce a top court decision on a centuries old Muslim custom. The approval came after the government failed to get Parliament to act on the decision.

A year ago, the high court ruled against the custom of triple “talaq.” The court found that it was unlawful for Muslim men to end a marriage by simply saying a single word three times. It ruled this violated the constitutional rights of Muslim women.

Many of India’s 170 million Muslims follow the Muslim Personal Law for family disputes. The laws include giving men permission to end their marriages by saying the Arabic word for divorce - “talaq” - three times. The word can be said anytime and anywhere, even as part of a telephone call or text message.

In this Jan. 7, 2018 file photo, an Indian Muslim woman holds a placard during a protest against a new draft law aimed at banning "Triple Talaq," a Muslim practice of instant divorce, in Ahmadabad, India. India's government on Wednesday, Sept. 19, approve
In this Jan. 7, 2018 file photo, an Indian Muslim woman holds a placard during a protest against a new draft law aimed at banning "Triple Talaq," a Muslim practice of instant divorce, in Ahmadabad, India. India's government on Wednesday, Sept. 19, approve

The government will have another six months to get parliament’s approval for the new ordinance to become law. For now, Indian officials can use the measure to take legal action against suspects.

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that nearly 22 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, have banned the custom. He appealed to the opposition to approve the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill.

India’s Muslim Law Board had told the court that they did not like the custom, but it opposed any court interference in religious issues. The board’s members asked that the subject of triple talaq be left to the Muslim community. But several Muslim activists condemned the position of the Law Board.

After the Supreme Court decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government proposed a bill that would criminalize the custom. The bill was approved in December by the lower house of Parliament, where Modi’s party has a majority. But it has yet to be approved by the upper house, where the opposition has the majority.

The main opposition Congress party is opposing the bill because of the three-year prison sentence for the offenders. It wants a less severe sentence. It also wants a parliamentary committee to discuss the issue to find a compromise.

In India, triple talaq has continued because of laws that give Muslims, Christians and Hindus permission to follow religious laws in marriage and other family issues.

While most Hindu personal laws have been changed over the years, Muslim laws have been left to religious leaders and are rarely changed.

I’m Susan Shand.

The Associate Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted the AP story for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

instant - adj. becoming something very quickly

ordinancen. a regulation made by the government

divorce - n. the ending of a marriage

triple adj. three times

XS
SM
MD
LG