Muslim Women’s Rights Day observed on August 1

Highlights:

• On August 1, Muslim Women’s Rights Day was celebrated across India. 
• The day celebrates he enactment of triple talaq law. 
• It was implemented on August 1, 2019.  

• Practice of triple talaq was made a criminal offence through this law. 
• Triple talaq allowed Indian Muslim husbands to divorce their wives instantly, by pronouncing the word “talaq” three times continuously. 
• This practice does not take the consent of wives into consideration.
• Indian Muslim Husbands had special privileges over their wives, in accordance with Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937.
• It included the practice of triple talaq, which is also called as Talaq-a-Biddat.
• Triple Talaq Law came into force on August 1, 2019, after Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha. 
• Earlier, the Bill was passed in Rajya Sabha on July 31. 
• Talaq-e-Biddat was made illegal through this law.
• In 2021, government of India announced to commemorate this day by observing Muslim Women’s Rights Day across India.
• The triple talaq law makes the practice of talaq a cognizable criminal offense.
• This offense is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine, under the triple talaq law.
• It also allows a married Muslim woman to take custody of her minor children in case of pronouncement of talaq by her husband, in manner determined by the magistrate.
• Triple Talaq law helps the government to safeguard gender equality. 
• It also strengthens the fundamental, democratic and constitutional rights of Muslim women in India.  
• It also promotes the self-reliance, self-esteem and self-respect of Muslim women. 
• The law has reduced the triple talaq cases by 80 percent since 2019.