Cases of divorce among indigenous Muslims in Assam lesser than other communities, contend experts
BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Aug 24: Prominent Assamese Muslims from areas of specialization have claimed that pronouncement of instant triple talaq was very minimal among indigenous Muslims of the State even before the Supreme Court on Wednesday banned the practice, owing to a different socio-cultural environ.
Dr Ilias Ali, eminent surgeon who has been fighting a long battle to popularize family planning concept among Muslims in different parts of the Northeast, told The Sentinel that cases of instant triple talaq was very less among indigenous Muslims primarily due to spread of education and socio-cultural environment prevalent among them.
“In Assam, women are always put on high pedestal and male chauvinism is always discouraged. Indigenous Muslims are also part of such tradition and thus rights of women have always been respected and protected. The majority of indigenous Muslim women is well educated and they have always raised voice against instant triple talaq,” Dr Ali said, adding that prevalence of instant triple talaq cases are high among Muslims who migrated to Assam.
Dr Taufik Rahman Borbora, former Principal of Assam Medical College & Hospital, said there are reports that cases of divorce among indigenous Muslims are less than other indigenous communities of the State.
Sources in the Family Court in Guwahati told this correspondent that out of around 20 applications that the court receives every day seeking divorce, the number of applicants from indigenous Muslims is low. Even a district like lbari, where any talk of divorce was considered taboo a decade ago, now witnesses 10 to 15 petitions seeking divorce filed daily in the Family Court. The scerio is more or less similar in several other districts across the State.
Dr Ayesha Ashraf Ahmed, a noted Muslim women activist, said she had come across very few cases of instant triple talaq among Muslims in Assam, who are considered as origil inhabitants.
Quoting various reports including one by the women’s wing of All India Muslim Persol Law Board, Dr Ahmed said the rate of divorce among Muslims was low as compared to other communities and that the issue of triple talaq was being projected in wrong light. She said the issue cropped up in recent years and was politicized.
“The issue needs to be understood in the right manner and perspective. Islam has given certain liberties to women and they are well protected in the community,” Dr Ahmed contended.
Shahz Yasmin Haque, president of Assam Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee, said there are other burning issues affecting women across communities like dowry, domestic violence, child marriage and female foeticide, to me a few. These broader issues need to be addressed prominently, instead of only pointing towards the Muslim community on triple talaq issue, she said.