Two women in Hyderabad have filed police complaints against their United States-based husbands, for divorcing them using triple talaq over WhatsApp and email, and against their parents-in-law for forcing them out of their home, NDTV reported. The complainants, Heena Fathima and Bahrain Noor, married two brothers.
The women said that they have not received the appropriate documents to legalise the divorces. Moreover, they alleged that no reasons were given for the triple talaq.
“Everyday he would ask to see the video of the children, how they were doing. Then suddenly, he said talaq. He has to tell me what I did wrong. What is my mistake? This is not right,” said Fathima who was divorced by Syed Fayazuddin six months ago. She said her in-laws had forced her daughters and her to move out of the house.
Bahrain Noor alleged that her husband Usman Qureishi sent a message that said “talaq, talaq, talaq” over WhatsApp. She said her husband had recently relocated to the United States and that she too was forced to leave her husband’s home last week, NDTV reported.
Initially, the women protested outside the house with their children. When their in-laws refused to take them back inside, they decided to file the police complaint. Cases have been registered against the men and their parents under sections relating to harassment of a married woman, attempt to outrage modesty of a woman, and assault.
South Zone DCP V Satyanarayana said he had told the father-in-law, Abdul Hafeez, that the law does not allow him to force the women and their children out of the home. “They [the women] are saying they did not get any divorce papers and talaq over WhatsApp is not valid under Shariat. If they [the accused] want divorce, they must do according to Islamic law valid in court,’’ Satyanarayana said.
“My sons have sent the necessary documents to them,” Hafeez told the news channel while denying that he had any role in the matter.
The Supreme Court has been hearing multiple petitions demanding a ban on the practice of triple talaq, polygamy and nikah halala on the grounds that they are discriminatory towards Muslim women. However, the Muslim personal law board has defended these practices in court, for which it has drawn widespread criticism.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!