India’s Muslim neighbours among 23 countries that have banned triple talaq

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, it requires the man who wishes to divorce his wife to give the ‘arbitration council’ a written notice, and supply a copy to his wife. In Afghanistan, divorce through three pronouncements made in only one sitting is considered invalid.

India’s neighbours Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are among countries that have banned instant triple talaq prevalent among Muslims for divorce. India and 22 other countries have banned the practice.

In Pakistan and Bangladesh, it requires the man who wishes to divorce his wife to give the ‘arbitration council’ a written notice of his having done so, and supply a copy of the same to his wife.

In Pakistan, triple talaq was abolished when it issued its Muslim Family Law Ordinance in 1961, according to Geo News. In Afghanistan, divorce through three pronouncements made in only one sitting is considered to be invalid.

Sri Lanka’s Marriage and Divorce (Muslim) Act, 1951, as amended up to 2006, banned triple talaq, according to a report by Pakistani scholar Muhammad Munir.

India’s Supreme Court last year banned instant triple talaq or ‘talaq-e-biddat’ practised by some in the Muslim community, saying it was “unconstitutional”.

The other countries where instant talaq is banned are Turkey, Cyprus, Tunisia, Algeria, Malaysia, Jordon, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Brunei, the UAE, Indonesia, Libya, Sudan, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Kuwait.

The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance to ban the practice of instant triple talaq, with law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad saying there was a “compelling necessity” to bring the measure as instances of ‘talaq-e-biddat’ continued unabated despite the Supreme Court striking it down.

Under the proposed ordinance, giving instant triple talaq will be illegal and void and will attract a jail term of three years for the husband.