A majority of divorce cases were due to socio-economic reasons, said State Minorities Commission Chairman Abid Rasool Khan at a round table discussion on Muslim Personal Law (MPL) organized in Hyderabad.
Commenting on the stand taken by All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), Mr. Khan noted that the body did not want to change its legal stand taken in the affidavit filed with the Supreme Court.
In addition, Mr. Khan favored issuing fatwas against dowry and ostentatious expenditure in marriages within the community, believing it would have a positive impact on divorce.
Speaking in the event at Lamakaan on December 28, Islamic Forum for Promotion of Moderate Thought (IFPMT) general secretary Faiz ur Rahman advocated his participative procedure that may generate reconciliation and harmonious divorce, if at all unavoidable.
Prominent educationist Ahmad Rashid Shervani came down heavily on the patriarchal and misogynist mind set of husbands, and lamented at interpretation of the Qur’an.
Hyderabad based activist Lubna Sarwath highlighted the fact that AIMPLB and other Muslim organizations did not quote Quranic verses in counter affidavits in the MPL case.
She also tabled two resolutions, which were passed with a majority in the absence of Mr. Khan as he left early.
Resolutions:
Resolution 1: We disagree with Board and Jamaats who have stated that instant triple talaq (talaq uttered three times) if uttered by husband then marriage gets dissolved.
Resolution 2: We disagree with Board and Jamaats who have stated that in extreme circumstances (eg. if the husband witnesses that his spouse has cheated upon him) then instant triple talaq (talaq uttered three times) becomes valid.