BMMA: The Muslim women’s rights organisation Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) has published a book on polygamy and conducted a study of Muslim women who are its victims.
A survey of 250 Muslim women served as the basis for the publication, “Status of Women in Polygamous Marriages and Need for Legal Protection.” Dr. Noorjehan Safia Niaz, co-founder of BMMA, and Zakia Soman wrote the book. More than ten states were included by both surveys.
Demands of women’s group
The women’s group is reviving its call for a ban on polygamy and its criminalization through this book. “We will revive the demand to ban polygamy and halala, which were not dealt with by the Supreme Court while dealing with Triple Talaq in our petition. If women in Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Buddhist religions are protected by IPC section 494, why should Muslim women be denied this legal protection?” Niaz questioned.
At the book launch, there were a lot of polygamy victims in attendance. One such victim, Irfana Qureshi, stated: “I discovered that my spouse had previously been married twice after we got married. I was subjected to torture and domestic abuse. I’m working with the neighbourhood police to file a case against my spouse.”
Also Read: Maharashtra: Mumbai display board flashes “Smoke weed everyday” slogan | Watch Video
50% of the women experience mental trauma
According to the survey, 84% of women believe that polygamy should be made illegal and 73% think that spouses who engage in it should face consequences. The survey on polygamous partnerships found that 50% of the women experience mental trauma, including sadness, self-blame, and suicidal thoughts.
“How can you say that one man can have more than one wife? The community must move ahead with the times. In today’s day and age, it’s a gross violation of a woman’s dignity and human rights,” remarked Zakia Soman, a co-founder of BMMA.
Noorjehan Safia Niaz stated, “We asked for codification of Muslim personal law, but we are getting it in pieces from court. We have given our charter to respective governments on the reforms needed. It covers justice framework in the light of the Quran on matters such as age of marriage, divorce, polygamy, maintenance, and custody of children. The government is yet to act on it.”
She went on to say that the book was an effort to give Muslim women a voice.
Keep watching our YouTube Channel ‘DNP INDIA’. Also, please subscribe and follow us on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and TWITTER
