Our society has been plagued with various archaic social norms which tend to cause more harm than good. For example, the want for a male child. Even today, in the year 2017, there are millions in our society who consider the birth of a girl child a bad omen. In fact, several women have been harassed and tortured by their husbands and in-laws due to their male child obsession.
Shagufta Shah, the mother of two daughters, was under immense pressure from her husband, Shamshad Sayeed, and in-laws, to undergo an abortion when she got pregnant for the third time.
“When I refused repeatedly, they started torturing me. On March 24, they forcibly tried to take me to the hospital and, when I resisted, they started beating me mercilessly.”
When Shagufta continued to resist, her husband took a drastic step.
“He verbally gave me triple talaq and I was left on the road to die.”
The same day that she was thrown out of her house, she sought help at the local police station. However, they simply heard her complaint and without registering any FIR, chased her away.
“Since then, my brother and my father are getting threatening calls and they (Shamshad and her in-laws) are threatening to kill us.”
After the police were of no help whatsoever, Shagufta decided to raise her voice against the triple talaq practice and wrote to PM Modi seeking help.Â
“Mr Prime minister, it is my humble request to please help this poor and helpless woman. I also request you to ensure that this evil tradition ends so that woman like me and other victims get justice and live a dignified life.”
In addition, she sent copies of the same letter to UP CM Yogi Adityanath, the National Commission for Women and the district magistrate.
PM Modi still hasn’t responded to the letter.
In the year 2017, in the most diverse nation in the world, a nation with the highest Muslim population, why does an archaic and unjust practice of triple talaq still have any standing?! Muslim majority countries like Pakistan and Indonesia have already outlawed this practice. Why does it still remain so dear to us?
News Source: India Today