Union Cabinet approves Triple Talaq ordinance: woman gets talaq over WhatsApp

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance making Islamic controversial practice ‘triple talaq’, instant divorce an offence. The ordinance comes after the government failed to pass the Muslim Women Bill, seeking to criminalise the controversial Islamic practice an offence, in Rajya Sabha last year.

This new triple talaq ordinance would have similar provisions as ‘The Muslim Women Protection of Rights in Marriage Act’, basically known as triple talaq bill, which was cleared by the Lok Sabha last year. The ordinance will allow women or her close relative to file a Police complaint against her husband for uttering the word ‘talaq’ thrice and thus divorcing her.

The law makes triple talaq a criminal offence, entailing a three-year jail term for divorcing his wife by uttering the words ‘talaq’ thrice. This triple talaq ordinance will deal whether the talaq is given orally, telephone, mobile call or in writing or through an electronic medium like Whatsapp or SMS.

The ordinance comes weeks after, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured saying, Muslim women will get justice as the entire nation is there. The Supreme Court in its verdict last year had declared controversial practice an unconstitutional and illegal.

Muslim women had petitioned the court, arguing that the practice of husbands divorcing them through ‘Triple Talaq’, including by Skype and WhatsApp, violated their fundamental rights. This does not seem to stop anytime soon, despite declaring it illegal, several Muslim men continued with the practice of instant talaq.

Woman gets Talaq over WhatsApp 

On the same day when Union Cabinet approved the triple talaq ordinance, a 29-year-old woman alleged that her husband, an Omani national gave her talaq over WhatsApp.

The victim quoted as saying to news agency ANI, “She got married to a 62-year-old man in May 2017, after which she settled in Oman and lived there for a year.”

Hyderabad: 29-year-old Huma Saira was allegedly given talaq on WhatsApp by her 62-year-old husband; says,”I was married to an Oman national in May’17 in Hyderabad. I lived in Oman for 1 year. I gave birth to a baby in 8 months who died in 3 months because of bad health. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/Z9RHCXA2Fu

— ANI (@ANI) September 19, 2018

When she went to Oman, her husband started harassing her, but she reportedly compromised with the situation and continued to live with him. later, she gave birth to a baby, but the child died. After losing the child, he started saying, he will leave her.

He reportedly sent her back to India in July this year for medical treatment and later gave her talaq over WhatsApp. After that he stopped answering his message or calls, victim’s father said.

Now, the victim is seeking External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to get justice to her she told ANI,  “These kinds of people are playing with the lives of poor women. They are marrying and later give talaq. Where should I go now without having any proper support,” she told ANI.

Also read: Monsoon Session: Triple Talaq Bill deferred in Parliament, to be taken in Winter Session