Protect Our Dignity, Ban Polygamy, Say Indian Muslim Women to PM

Indian Muslim women write to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking ban on polygamy in India.

Muslim women inside a mosque watch proceedings of a mass wedding organised by the Dawoodi Bohra Muslim sect in Bombay. (Photo: Reuters)

An Indian Muslim women’s group, Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA), has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 26, seeking a ban on polygamy.

Citing the 1985 Shah Bano case, the letter points out the patriarchal dominance in the matter of personal law for women.

A Supreme Court observation questioned the National Legal Service Authority of India over violation of fundamental rights of Muslim women under Article 14, 15 and 21.

The letter has suggested two ways for the betterment of Indian Muslim women – amendments in the Shariat Application Act, 1937 and the dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939.

The letter has also cited a national research by BMMA which claims that out of 4710 Muslim women from 10 states, 92.1 percent women want a complete ban on oral divorce while 91.7 percent are opposed to polygamy.

The letter was also sent to

• Union Law Minister, Sadananda Gowda
  
• Woman and Child Development Minister Menaka Gandhi
  
• Minister of State for Minorities Affair, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
  
• Chairperson of National Commission for Women, Dr Lalitha Kumaramangalam
  
• Chairperson of National Commission for Minorities, Dr Nasim Ahmed
  
• Chairperson of Law Commission of India, Ajit Prakash Shah

The association has sent a draft proposal with their demands for the government’s consideration.