Triple talaq ban: Madrassas to teach "correct" way to divorce
After the Supreme Court's recent verdict banning triple talaq, Dargah-E-Ala Hazrat, a body that oversees Islamic schools, has said that it would teach boys the correct way to divorce. Hazrat controls around 15,000 madrassas that impart education on Islamic law. The new chapter on divorce is expected to be ready by the start of the next academic year, in July 2018.
In a landmark judgement, a five-judge bench of the SC banned triple talaq, terming it unconstitutional. SC further allowed the centre six months to enact a law, in the absence of which SC order shall continue to be operational. While the verdict was largely welcomed by Muslim women and activists, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board views it as a violation of their rights.
Triple talaq is a means of dissolution of marriage in Muslim society. Under this practice, a marriage is deemed dissolved once the husband says 'talaq' thrice. Banned in 22 countries, including some Muslim dominated countries, the practice has been widely criticized for discrimination against women.
Additions to the chapter on divorce is expected to be ready for rollout by the beginning of the next academic year, by July 2018. The lessons will be taught to boys aged between 5-16, although the exact content is currently unknown. The centre would then share it with other madrassas which can choose to implement it into their own curriculum.
Speaking on the centre's efforts to spread awareness, Maulana Shahbudin Razvi notes, "we conducted a meeting of clerics associated with madrassas after the SC order and have urged them to inform the community through students and in Friday prayers".
