Woman divorces husband over phone, marries brother-in-law

She issued a triple talaq at a time debate is raging in India over the continuation of the Islamic practice

Awoman in Bihar divorced her husband by uttering the word ‘talaq’ three times over the phone on Friday after falling in love with her brother-in-law.

The woman served the instant divorce in the presence of a village court which had been convened to look into the matter, at Rajajan village, Khagaria district, some 170km east of Patna.

The case comes amid a raging debate in India over the continuation of the Islamic practice of ‘triple talaq’.

The woman, Rozida Khatoon, was unhappy with her husband Mohammad Junail and the couple were living apart for extended periods of time owing to Junail’s efforts to earn a livelihood. In his absence, Khatoon drew close to her brother-inlaw, The government may have to step in and enact a law to ban triple talaq if the Muslim community fails to “change” the practice, Union minister M. Venkaiah Naidu said yesterday.

“It is for the society to take up the issue and it will be good if the [Muslim] society itself changed the practice. Otherwise, a situation may arise where the government will have to bring in a legislation [banning triple talaq],” Naidu said while addressing a meeting here.

“This is not to interfere in anybody’s personal matters, but at the same time it’s a question of justice to women. All women should have equal rights. Equality before law — that’s the issue,” the Union Information and Broadcasting Minister said. He recalled that laws were enacted to get rid of certain practices, even within Hindu society — practices such as child marriage, sati and dowry. “The Hindu society discussed child marriages and Parliament passed legislation banning it. Second is ‘sati sahagaman’, an ancient practice, wherein a woman too ended her life following her husband’s death. Now it is prohibited by law, by Hindu society itself. Third is dowry. The Dowry Prohibition Act was passed and the Hindu society accepted it,” the Union Minister said. Mohammad Nasir, and the two fell in love.

As news of their affair reached the villagers, they reported the matter to the local village court, which met Friday to decide their fate.

At the court, Khatoon called Junail and divorced him instantly after uttering the word ‘talaq’ three times.

She stunned the court by announcing her intention to stay with Nasir, a father of four children.

When asked to present his position, Nasir agreed to accept Khatoon as his wife and declared that he would ensure the peace between both his wives.

The incident comes barely three days after the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board reportedly told the Supreme Court that the women too can give talaq.