New Shia nikaahnama released -Your views - Page 2

Right to work for all Shia women,divorce is easier	11/27/2006 12:13:24 AM
- By Our Correspondent
Mumbai, Nov. 26: Shia Muslim women across the country can now expect the same rights as men in matters of divorce. The All-India Shia Personal Law Board on Sunday unveiled a revolutionary new model nikahnama (marriage contract) which empowers Shia women to end their marriages under unfavourable conditions. The board unanimously approved the new nikahnama at its second annual conference held at the Anjuman-e-Islam grounds here. The model nikahnama, which has been approved by the highest Shia cleric of Iraq, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and other experts, came into force on Sunday. One of the key clauses of the nikahnama states that Shia women cannot be stopped from seeking employment after marriage. Among other clauses are that the groom would have to sign a set of conditions before the nikah ceremony: that the girl would have an equal right to talaq or divorce; and that the groom would have to specify his income, social status and qualifications in writing before marriage. After the nikahnama was unveiled, board members passed several other resolutions, including one demanding restoration of the subsidy given to pilgrims going to Iraq, Iran and Syria, which had been stopped 20 years ago. The president of the board, Maulana Mirza Mohammed Athar, said: "A false impression was being created that Muslims were anti-nationals and terrorists, which is wrong. We love our motherland just like people in other religions do." The board's secretary, Mr Zahir Abbas Rizvi, said: "We demand that Shia waqf boards be established all over India on the pattern of Uttar Pradesh so that Shias may be able to perform their religious rituals from the income of these trusts created by their ancestors." Other demands include that a separate survey should be made with the help and guidance of the Shia ulema (clergy) so that authentic data could be collected about the condition of the Shia community and action be taken to improve their status. Maulana Athar condemned terrorists who gave an Islamic colour to their "selfish and criminal activities." All Muslims, particularly in the wake of the recent Muslim and Malegaon blasts, were being looked upon with suspicion, he said, and this "attitude should end." He added: "The culprits are trying to defame Islam. Islam does not preach terrorism."

Source: asianage.com

Originally posted by: mermaid_QT

3) Laws should be based on REGION, not religion. If my religious text requires me to drive car on left side of the road, then I should not live in the USA. Period.
I am against the concept of DIFFERENT LAWS based on RELIGION. We'll never be equal as long as this continues. Different citizens abiding different marriage / divorce laws unfortunately breeds severe discontent.

mQT

😆 I support uniform civil code.

Originally posted by: MS.ATTITUDE

is mai khuch bhi naya nahi hai yah sare rulez pehlay hi nikahnama mai apply hutay hain .
aurat ko islam mai shrou se haq hai divorce dene ka.
der is nthg new in dis .

That is even more disturbing.. No change and it is being sold as a good change towards liberation.

Abhijit ji pointed out a very good note as usual. I would like to know the view of somebody who is effected by this law as well. Anybody?

For MS Attitude: Pl check the bold words.

From Hindustan Times:

SHIA WOMEN in India finally have substantive marital rights. The All India Shia Personal Law Board (AISPLB) on Sunday unveiled a new nikahnama (marriage agreement) which gives Shia women the right to seek divorce on many more grounds than they enjoyed earlier. In a radical departure from previous Muslim convention, it also gives women the right to maintenance after divorce until they became self-dependent.

The AISPLB said Shia women could ask for divorce on grounds of mental and physical torture, being cheated by their husbands or being barred from studying or taking up a job.

The previous model nikahnama introduced by the All India Muslim Personal Board (AIMPLB), which applies to all Muslims, gives women the right to initiate divorce only if their husbands are cruel or impotent. The AISPLB has gone further, granting more rights to the 1.5 crore Shia women in the country than their Sunni sisters possess.

The Shia nikahnama has been approved by the sect's seniormost cleric in Iraq, Ayatollahal-Uzma-al-Sayed Sistani, and accepted by the AISPLB's general body meeting in Mumbai.

It also makes the signing of an agreement at the time of the wedding mandatory. The agreement should have details of the professions of both spouses, their salaries, dependants and earlier marriages, if any. The marriage will not be considered legal unless the agreement is signed.

"The nikahnama is a legally enforceable contract," said Zaheer Abbas Rizvi, general secretary of the AISPLB. "This shows that the Shia community is progressive and ensures equal rights for women." He said the law would empower women and show "there is no narrowness in Islam". There is also a provision for "arbitration" under which a couple must go to a third party for the settlement of marital disputes before approaching the court.

The AISPLB said the nikahnama was valid with immediate effect and no further approval from the AIMPLB would be sought.

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ChameliKaYaar : Its challenging and difficult to break away from a religious or social norm been followed over thousands of years. For eg its tough to break of habits and here it is a matter of breaking off a religous dictats and beliefs which are held strongly and practised too.

A tree does not grow in a day nor do we learn in a day. You wld agree its better late than never. We all want equal rights and yes they are desirable too but there are practices or beliefs which overpower these righteous efforts. Let us appreciate these steps however small they may be.

Originally posted by: sowmyaa

I am also not too sure, but thinking that this is change in Indian law for shia ladies. Under the Indian constitution, Muslims have the right to separate laws in matters such as marriage, divorce and inheritance. I guess it's good to see some changes in the law for shia ladies. All I could say is "good for them".
However, I personally don't support constitution based on religion, but let's not go there.

yeah, same here Sowmya, just cannot support it! and hence mentioned anyway..

Originally posted by: Maya_M

😆 I support uniform civil code.

yeah.. uniform civil code. i forgot the term for that.. 😆

Woman minister killed by fanatic

By Akram Malik

GUJRANWALA, Feb 20: Punjab Minister for Social Welfare Zille Huma Usman was shot dead by a man described by police as a religious fanatic when she was going to address an open court here on Tuesday.

Police arrested the accused, Maulvi Mohammad Sarwer Mughal, and seized a pistol he was carrying. The accused had been charged with killing four model girls and injuring a dozen others some four years ago, and he was acquitted by a local court for lack of evidence.

Witnesses said the 36-year-old minister, mother of two minor boys, was being showered with rose petals by workers of her party at the Muslim League House on the Asgher Ali Road when the accused fired on her.

She was taken to the District Headquarters Hospital with critical head injuries. Later, she was shifted to the General Hospital in Lahore by a helicopter where she died soon due to excessive bleeding. PML workers and the minister's guards overpowered the accused and handed him over to the Civil Lines police.

Quoting the accused, who ran a hardware shop, DIG (operations) Khadim Hussain Bhatti said he was waging a jihad against anti-Muslim forces. "Women can't become rulers in Islam," he is reported to have been said.

But he was acquitted by a court. A case was registered against the accused on Tuesday night under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

AFP adds: Officials said the accused killed the minister because "she was not wearing Muslim clothing".

"He killed her because she was not observing the Islamic code of dress," local police officer Nazir Ahmad said.

www.dawn.com

and he will get a fair trial in return i suppose.. he should be unclothed and shot a hole in every organ by women
- kidneys,heart and brain last and slower the death the better

This is just not an isolated case and certainly doesn't just pertain to Pakistan but to all South Asian countries. (We recently had a debate on Shiv Sena's act as culture police in India).

We are all guilty for empowering religious fanatics and their supporters who attack, mistreat and slaughter those who disagree with them in the name of culture, tradition and religion.

[QUOTE=Maya_M]

This is just not an isolated case and certainly doesn't just pertain to Pakistan but to all South Asian countries. (We recently had a debate on Shiv Sena's act as culture police in India).

We are all guilty for empowering religious fanatics and their supporters who attack, mistreat and slaughter those who disagree with them in the name of culture, tradition and religion.

[/QUOTE/]

👏good job very nice articles. i oppossed shiv sena for being the cultural police.here i wont say anything.