A secular grouping called Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) has stated its intent to file an intervention application in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on Nikah Halala.
The group held a press conference on Thursday at Marathi Patrakar Sangh, and raised questions aimed at the institution from where people have passed out to be Qazis — Darul Qaza (House of Qazis called Shariah Courts) — and at the members of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB).
Under the Nikah Halala practice, if a divorced woman wants to remarry her ex-husband, she has to marry another man, consummate that marriage, then divorce him before returning to her previous husband.
Javed Anand, one of the speakers at the event, said, "It is nothing but a sex racket where Maulvis provide their 'services' for a charge." He said some Maulvis were eager to take money for the act.
"It is shameful that AIMPLB spokesperson said women seeking a ban on this should not get space for a grave. We just heard about a case where a woman was asked to marry her father-in-law, then brother-in-law, before she could marry her husband after he divorced her. The divorce process as per Quran should take three to six months," he added.
"Islam was not born in a vacuum. Women were extremely oppressed at the time of the Prophet and some patriarchal practices have continued till date. But He banned Nikah Halala. What is being practised today is banned," said Zeenat Shaukat Ali, an author on women's rights under Islam.
'JAIL THE PERVS'
The speakers at Thursday’s event said that Maulvis involved in Nikah Halala should be behind bars. “In Hyderabad this is rampant and Owaisi (sic) knows about this,” alleged Feroze Mithiborwala. “I have seen with my eyes Maulvis offering their ‘service’ to consummate a marriage,” said Hasan Kamaal, a prominent journalist and speaker.
