Triple talaq: Muslim Mahila Andolan welcomes ordinance

The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), a pan-India movement of Muslim women, on Wednesday welcomed the move of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre for bringing an ordinance making triple talaq a punishable offence.

"A beginning has been made... obviously we all are happy," Noorjehan Safia Niaz, one of the co-founders of BMMA, told DH.

She, however, went on to add that the political class must work towards addressing issues like 'nikah halala', polygamy, custody of children, share of property and underage marriage. "Other issues vis-a-vis Muslim Personal Law needs to be looked into. At least, the women now have some legal protection," she said.

The BMMA, co-founded by Zakia Soman and Noorjehan, were among the petitioners in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on "instant divorce".

"It took us 70 years to get this.... it was a Constitutional right" she said, adding that Muslim women are now "equal citizens". "How long you can deny her rights?," Noorjehan wanted to know.

In the past, BMMA fought a successful legal battle against the entry of women at the Haji Ali shrine in Mumbai. It also backed the movement that successfully ensured that women can perform puja at the Shani Shingnapur temple in the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.