Muslim Women's Rights Day - 1 August

Tags: Important Days

Muslim Women's Rights Day is observed annually on 1 August to mark the second anniversary of the enactment of the law against triple talaq.

An Overview of the News

• A law against triple talaq was introduced by the central government of India on August 1, 2019, making the practice a criminal offence.

• The legislation is a part of the Protection of Rights on Marriage Act 2019, which outlaws instant triple talaq and protects the marriage rights of Muslim women.

• By celebrating Muslim Women's Rights Day, the Union Ministry of Minority Affairs highlights the importance of protecting the rights of Muslim women and promotes awareness about the impact of the law.

History of Muslim Women's Rights Day

• The Supreme Court in August 2017 declared the practice of triple talaq, a form of divorce based on the husband saying talaq three times in succession, as 'unconstitutional'.

• In response to the Supreme Court ruling and the triple talaq cases in India, the government introduced the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill in Parliament in December 2017.

• The bill was initially passed by the Lok Sabha, but faced opposition in the Rajya Sabha, due to which it stalled.

• The bill was reintroduced and successfully passed by both the Houses of Parliament in July 2019.

• The bill got assent from President Ram Nath Kovind and officially became a law.

• The law outlaws instant triple talaq, punishes three years' imprisonment for violations, and imposes a fine on the violator.

• Muslim Women's Rights Day is observed on 1 August to mark the passage of the Triple Talaq Bill in Parliament on 1 August 2019.

• The cases of 'Shah Bano Begum and others v. Mohd. Ahmed Khan' and 'Shayra Bano v. Union of India and others' laid the foundation for this move.

• Shayra Banu in her writ petition sought the Supreme Court to declare the practices of Talaq-e-bidat, polygamy and nikah-halala as unconstitutional.