Nikah Halala victims and activists demand law on this as soon as possible

New Delhi, July 31: Water supply of Rani Shabnam of Bulandshahr district of Uttar Pradesh has been stopped by her in-laws after she was divorced by her husband who had married another woman and fled; Farzana Begum of the same region of western UP has been threatened to cut into pieces by her husband if she does not agree for Nikah Halala after she has filed a case in the court; Dr Shameena has been threatened to leave Okhla in Delhi if she continues to work against Nikah Halal and public opinion is being made against her; Amber Zaidi is threatened to be raped if she takes up the cause of Nikah Halala.

The matter of Nikah-Halala is before the constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, but not only victims but activists are also threatened. Police complain has been made in all these cases but people wanting to continue this anti-Islamic and unconstitutional practice are having their way with the support of radicals of Islam.

Farzana said, "I was asked by my husband to perform Nikah Halala with his Muhbola father who is 65-year-old. He also said that nothing will be disclosed to anyone but when I refused to follow his proposal, I am being threatened to cut into pieces for that I filed a police complain." Copy of the complain is with One India.

Farzana was divorced by writing thrice on a piece of paper and her husband Abdul Qadir married another woman. But she is getting threats after she filed her petition which was listed on July 23, 2018. Dr Shameena who was contacted by Farzana's cousin to help her out told One India, "The country won't be run by Sharia. It will be run by constitution and rule of law. I told her that she might not get anything out of this court battle but it will definitely help women of the community in future. Muslim women will be saved from the business of Halala which is being run by some of maulvies. Shameena said that Islamic radicals were offering Rs 11786 if hair braids of women opposing Nikah Halala is brought in. So if this is the way of doing things anyone can come up with such offer including me."

This was confirmed by many women activists working against Nikah Halala that men will be provided to perform Halala. Shameena informed that there was a Facebook profile called Halala Expert which was later deleted. Another activist who is also threatened by these people Amber Zaidi told One India, "Such threats are being given from very long time to victims, petitioners and activists so it is high time for the government to make a law on this to give relief to women. It is already too late and since things have gone out of their hands to they are resorting to such tactics and threatening people. The government just need a political will to solve the matter not only to give relief to victims but also to punish people involved in such act."