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India Criminalizes Ancient Practice of Instant Divorce Among Muslims

Anjana Pasricha

   NEW DELHI - India's parliament has passed a measure to criminalize the
   centuries-old practice of instant divorce among Muslims and punish men
   with jail terms if they defy a ban on what is known as "triple talaq."

   The government said a law was necessary because there have been
   instances of Muslim men continuing to terminate marriages by repeating
   the Arabic word "talaq" three times, although the practice was outlawed
   by India's Supreme Court in 2017.

   The bill sets a fine and a jail sentence of up to three years for men
   convicted of using the practice. It will become law as soon as the
   president signs it.

   In a tweet, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said "an archaic and medieval
   practice has finally been confined to the dustbins of history," and it
   "corrects a historical wrong done to Muslim women."

   The measure, called the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage
   Bill, was passed in the upper house of parliament amid protests from
   the main opposition Congress party, which opposed setting a prison term
   for offenders and wanted further scrutiny of the bill.

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