New Delhi. For the right to equality, Muslim women had to knock the doors of the court. They got justice from the Supreme Court, and then they were denied justice in the temple of democracy. But Muslim women continued the fight for equality and respect.

Now when the Supreme Court once again affirmed their rights and said that they are entitled to receive maintenance allowance after divorce like ordinary Indian women, the happiness of Muslim women knew no bounds.

Demand raised to implement UCC

Their faith in the present government is so deep that they have also demanded the implementation of Uniform Civil Code (UCC). Actually, this is a changing India, where Muslim women have started raising their voice for their rights. They are speaking strongly on constitutional rights. Some Muslim religious leaders along with Hindu saints are praising this decision, calling it historic.

Supreme Court's decision is good- Shabnam Hashmi

Social activist Shabnam Hashmi says that the Supreme Court's decision is very good. Every woman should get alimony. This is her constitutional right. Shayra Bano, who was the first to go to the Supreme Court against triple talaq and is the vice-president of the Uttarakhand State Women's Commission, said that the Supreme Court's decision will enable the Muslim women of the country to get their due rights.

Muslim divorced women can also ask for alimony: Shayra Bano

Shayra said that she had filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2016 regarding her triple talaq. A year later, the Supreme Court gave a verdict in her favour. After this, a law was made in 2018 regarding triple talaq and a provision was made to file a case against those who give talaq and send them to jail. Shayra said that after the decision of the Supreme Court, now under section 125 of CrPC, Muslim divorced women can also ask for alimony from their husbands.

Alimony is a right, not alms

Shalini Ali, president of the women's wing of the Muslim National Forum, said that this is not a new decision of the Supreme Court. This is what was said in the Shah Bano case. Maintenance allowance is not alms but a right. When a girl leaves her home and goes to another house and improves it. She makes it her home. When she is suddenly thrown out of there, she does not have a place to go.

He said that divorced Muslim women have also been seen begging on the streets. Today's government is not the fearful government of the past but takes big decisions in the interest of women. Decisions like reservation for women in Parliament are historic. We hope that the government will implement UCC and free Muslim women and girls from the clutches of fanatic maulanas.

Supreme Court came forward: Amber Zaidi

Social activist Ambar Zaidi said that whenever fanatics tried to suppress and crush Muslim women in the name of Sharia, the Supreme Court came forward. Earlier, the Supreme Court's decision on triple talaq was historic, which gave legal protection to women. Similarly, this decision has opened the way for a respectable life for them.

He said that the right to alimony is for all women. It should not have been divided on the basis of religion, but the previous Rajiv Gandhi government had surrendered to the fanatic clerics, but it is expected from this government that this will not happen. We urge the Modi government to now move forward towards a uniform civil code, so that everyone is assured of equal rights.

Saints also welcomed the decision

General Secretary of All India Sant Samiti Swami Jitendrananda Saraswati said that this decision of the Supreme Court is welcome. If the country is secular then there should not have been a separate law for Muslims and a separate law for Hindus. This decision had come earlier also in the Shah Bano case. Then the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had overturned that decision. That decision is wrong. Today the Supreme Court has reinstated its old decision.

Personal Law Board is against it, Jamiat is unaware of it

Muslim Personal Law Board has opposed this decision of the Supreme Court citing Shariat. It said that the case of Shah Bano was also the same and it was opposed on that basis. Giving alimony will reduce divorce cases. Even if the marital relationship deteriorates, both the parties will live a suffocated life but will not divorce. To understand this entire matter, the board has called a meeting of the working committee. Also, this decision can be reviewed in the legal committee of the board and the path of challenging the decision can be adopted.

Board spokesperson Qasim Rasool Ilyas said that a meeting of the working committee could be held in Delhi this Sunday. Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind national president Maulana Arshad Madani refrained from commenting on the matter and said that he is not aware of this decision yet.