Muslim men are no longer able to use ‘Triple Talaq’ to obtain a divorce (Picture: EPA)

Women in India have been celebrating today after a law was introduced against the Muslim practice of ‘instant divorce’.

‘Triple Talaq’, as it is known, allows a man to instantly divorce his wife by repeating the word ‘talaq’ three times in succession.

The word means ‘you are divorced’ in Arabic and can be presented in any form, including in an email or text message.

India’s parliament has now made using the controversial practice a criminal offence, punishable by up to three years in prison.


Prime Minister Narendra Modi managed to push through the bill despite stiff resistance from opposing parties, tweeting afterwards: ‘An archaic and medieval practice has finally been confined to the dustbin of history.

Muslim women have been petitioning against the practice (Picture: EPA)

‘Parliament abolishes Triple Talaq and corrects a historical wrong done to Muslim women. This is a victory of gender justice and will further equality in society. India rejoices today!’



The practice was first declared unconstitutional by The Supreme Court in 2017 after several Muslim women petitioned against it.

Moment suspect arrested after two journalists stabbed with meat cleaver in Paris attack

They argued that the unilateral power of Muslim men to end marriages violated India’s constitution by infringing on their fundamental right to equality.

Some of them had been divorced by letters or through messaging apps like WhatsApp, leaving them without any legal remedy.

Shayara Bano, 38, who started the petition after being ‘instantly divorced’ by her husband, said the move would ensure Muslim women are ‘treated as equals in society and in the eyes of law’.

The law will come into effect in the next few days (Picture: EPA)

She told the Economic Times: ‘I hope the government and society would now help rehabilitate victims like me.’

Modi had first attempted to outlaw the practice during his first term in office, but did not have enough upper house support to pass it through until after his victory in the recent May elections.

Woman, 22, ‘punched in face in broad daylight for wearing skirt’

The law will come into effect after receiving a formal nod from the president in next few days.

Besides a jail term and a fine, it will also require Muslim men to financially support their wives, who will also get custody of their children.

India has no uniform civil law for marriage, divorce and property.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the practice ‘archaic and medieval’ (Picture: PA)

Its constitution allows followers of each faith to use their religious laws to govern such matters, including 180 million Muslims, the largest religious minority in the Hindu-dominated country

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has long pushed for a uniform civil code to be enforced in India.

Got a story for Metro.co.uk? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.