Women's group fighting triple talaq welcomes govt's affidavit

The women's group fighting for the ban on triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy on Friday welcomed the affidavit filed by the government. The group, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) which is one of the four petitioners in the Supreme Court on the issue also welcomed the Supreme Court's suggestion to the Haji Ali Dargah Trust that they come out with a progressive solution on women's entry into the inner sanctorium of the Dargah.

The government on Friday in an affidavit stated that triple talaq is against the right to equality that is guaranteed under the constitution. On the Haji Ali issue, the trustees were asked to take a progressive step and the High Court stay was extended by them till October 17.

"Discrimination of women cannot be tolerated. It is a constitutional obligation of the government to give them equal rights," said Zakia Soman, co-convenor of BMMA.

On Haji Ali, Noorjehan Safia Niaz, another co-convenor of BMMA said, "I think the SC wants to go deeper into the issue and make its own assessment. They will come to their own conclusion." The 'progressive step' was however, welcomed by them.

Sohail Khandwani, one of the trustees of Haji Ali Dargah Trust said, "The trustees will have a meeting on Monday or Tuesday and then come to a decision." Some who fought the issue said that reinstating entry can be the only progressive step. Feroze Mithiborelwala, who was supporting entry of women in Haji Ali Dargah said, "Women were allowed to enter the dargah till sometime ago. The only progressive solutions is to re-instate their entry." 

Maulana Syed Ather Ali, executive body member of the All India Personal Law Board reacting to the government affidavit said that the issue which is outside the purview of the court. "The government affidavit has not surprised to us. It is weird that the court is accepting what has been given to us in the constitution. Reformist groups have taken signature campaigns in thousands,” he said.