Profiles of the 5 women who led the fight against triple talaq

Following is a list of the five women who petitioned the Supreme Court challenging the practice of instant triple talaq, stating that not only was it discriminatory, but also violated their fundamental rights.

Shayara Bano, 36

Shayara Bano, from Uttarakhand, holds a post graduate degree in Sociology. On October 15, 2015, she was divorced by her husband Rizwan Ahmed of 15 years who sent her a letter with the word ‘talaq’ written thrice on it. Her husband took away her two kids. On February 23, 2016, Bano filed a petition against triple talaq, halala and polygamy in SC.

Reacting to the verdict, Bano said, “This is a historic day for Muslim women. My 11-year-old daughter will not have to face such regressive practices when she grows up. ”

She also said she felt the Muslim Personal Law Board needed to move with the times.

Aafreen Rehman, 28

Within a few months of her marriage in 2014, Rehman’s in-laws started beating her. She went back to her parents’ house. In 2016, Rehman, who is a post graduate in Management Studies, received a letter via speed post from her husband announcing talaq.

On the verdict, she said, “The cruelty against women, wherein they were thrown out of the house like a pair of shoes, will now end.”

Gulshan Parween, 30

Parween is a post graduate in English literature. In 2015, her husband sent her a talaqnama on a Rs10 (Dh0.5) stamp paper when she was visiting her parents’ house. On the verdict, Parween said, “there is no provision [in triple talaq] to ask the wife if she agrees with it or not. I hail the verdict.”

Atiya Sabri

Sabri got married in 2012. In November, 2015, her husband Wajid Ali sent her a piece of paper announcing a divorce. She approached the apex court in January this year challenging the practice of triple talaq.

She hailed the verdict. “I am happy no Muslim woman will have to undergo what I did,” she said.

Ishrat Jahan, 31

Ishrat Jahan, from West Bengal, was divorced by her husband Murtaza through a phone call from Dubai. He even took away their four children with him. He remarried a week after.

“I don’t accept the talaq by phone. I want justice. I want my three daughters and son back,” she said. “I am very happy today. Now I hope to get justice.”