Indian Muslims have always been free to apply their own personal laws – concerning marriage, divorce and inheritance. The Congress upheld l...
Indian Muslims have always been free to apply their own personal laws – concerning marriage, divorce and inheritance. The Congress upheld legal pluralism, so as not to aggravate the minority. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Narendra Modi has no such reservations. He is pursuing a Uniform Civil Code, and presents this as a victory for Muslim women.
He’s probably right. A UCC would improve gender equality – if women can claim their equal rights. To do so, they need economic autonomy and public safety.
An archaic and medieval practice has finally been confined to the dustbin of history!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 30, 2019
Parliament abolishes Triple Talaq and corrects a historical wrong done to Muslim women. This is a victory of gender justice and will further equality in society.
India rejoices today!
Conservative opposition
Under Muslim Personal Law, a man was only obliged to support his divorced wife for three months. After this iddat period, the divorce was complete. He was no longer liable.
In direct contravention of divine law, Indira Gandhi’s government legislated that all divorced women were entitled to maintenance. This 1973 amendment of the Criminal Procedure Code applied to all women, including Muslims.
Claiming her legal rights, Shah Bano, a divorced, elderly woman in Madhya Pradesh, appealed to the Supreme Court. She won...
