The Supreme court’s judgement over triple talaq came over 5 years ago, but what beats contradiction and irony in a diverse country like India? One such sufferer is Afreen Rehman. The unilateral decision of her husband divorcing her was although proven invalid officially, the man is refusing to take her back. Now, she stands somewhere in between being married or a divorced woman. Miss Rehman is one of the five petitioned cases. Important to note, these women are still ‘divorced’ as they have not been taken back.
Before this ruling, India was one of the countries where triple talaq was valid although the campaign was pushed by the Bharatiya Janata Party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Thoughts of Muslim Women on Triple Talaq
Co-founder of Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan, Zakia Soman states
“Their husbands are happily remarried and even having children, whereas these women continue to live alone.”
She also states that the 2017 ruling has given them mixed outcomes.
Shayara Bano, who was also the lead petitioner is now vice-chairperson of women’s rights group in Uttarakhand but petitioners like Ms Rehman are juggling to find a stable job for mere income. Cases of men leaving behind their responsibilities and their women has rapidly gone up and contradicts the ruling highly. As per Jameela Nishat’s research by volunteering in 20 slums of the city, 683 out of 2106 households, women were left or deserted.
A former member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board, Uzma Naheed says
“ It is happening as men are avoiding maintenace to women. This is very painful and the law has not helped.”
Ms. Rehman tried to remarry but the highlighted case of hers has left her with no positive space. She says
“My life has not changed. I am already a villain.”
