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Will file PIL against polygamy, Nikah Halala: Muslim women's rights group

The group announced their decision in a public hearing conducted jointly with the Maharashtra State Women's Commission at the St Pius College, Goregaon.

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The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), a Mulsim women's rights group said that it will be filing a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court seeking a ban on polygamy and nikah halala. The group announced their decision in a public hearing conducted jointly with the Maharashtra State Women's Commission at the St Pius College, Goregaon.

The group had sought a ban on the two practices with instant triple talaq in their earlier PIL but they were not taken up by the SC. "We will be filing the petition in a month's time. All laws are codified and it is time Muslim laws are codified too. Our next fight will be on inheritance and other things. Four marriages were allowed as per the conditions that time. Today those conditions do not prevail and hence polygamy should not be allowed," said Zakia Soman, convenor of BMMA.

"Since polygamy and Nikah Halala are interlinked, it is important for us to take both together," said Noorjehan Safia Niaz, co-convenor of BMMA. Polygamy allows a Muslim man to have up to four wives. In case of Nikah Halala, if a woman has to get back to her husband who has divorced her, she has to consummate her marriage with another man. Halala, alleged speakers, was used as a means to make money by exploiting women.

In the public hearing, victims mentioned about their sufferings due to polygamy or Nikah Halala. "It was in Ajmer and the person is very well known. He married me, kept me for four months and then harassed me. I have been told that he marries women almost regularly," said Khushnuma Ashfaq Ahmed.

Another victim, Shaista Ansari said, "I was cheated on twice in my marriage. My husband said he wanted to marry for kids. Even when I was pregnant, he would go meet other women. He is not willing to have the child, the very reason for him to marry." The victim also said that police do not help on being approached.

"We want law in written format and in such detail that a woman does not feel embarrassed while seeking her rights," said Shriya Maini, advocate and legal rights expert who will be presenting the case in SC. Speakers also said that the two practices were creating trauma and depression. "In many countries where Muslim population is in majority, the practice is either illegal or is conditional and conditions are very stringent," said Rushkar Memon, another advocate.

"I was unwell and hence I could not attend the meet," Vijaya Rahatkar, chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women's Commission said on being asked about no representation from the commission in the hearing.

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