This Entire Village Is Out Supporting A Woman Divorced Over Phone Via #TripleTalaq

When the phone rang at 9am on September 30, Asma Khatoon had just finished feeding her 11-month old daughter Ikra. She answered, glad to hear her husband Shahnawaz Hussain's voice. The last call had not ended well and she was keen to make amends. But the happiness was short-lived.

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Hussain's message, speaking from the Saudi capital of Riyadh where he worked as a driver, was short.

His answer to her 'salaam' was abuse and then the three dreaded words: "Mein tumhe talaq deta hoon, talaq, talaq, talaq (I divorce you)".

The line went dead before Asma could muster the presence of mind to protest or even ask why. It has been 20 days since and she is still unable to speak of that day without tears welling up in her kohl-lined eyes.

Also Read: Bride Divorces Groom With A Triple Talaq On The Phone, And There's A Damn Good Reason For It

Asma's ill treatment began soon after Ikra was born. "They wanted a son. After Ikra, my in-laws and husband started beating me up. They demanded a car. My family had already given a motorcycle, jewellery, some cash and other things at the marriage but that was no longer enough," she says.

With instances of unilateral triple talaq -- delivered on the phone, on WhatsApp, on Facebook - on the rise, Asma's tale could have been just one of many.

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But the village of Naiamu, over 25km from Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh, could be scripting history. In the last 20 days, not only has the local pradhan (village head) supported Asma and her family but he is also rallying support. "Triple talaq has become a game for some men. They don't realise that in the process they destroy a woman's life," said Mohammed Liaquat Tyagi, the pramukh of the Naiamu gram panchayat.

He and the village elders met with 40 other pradhans and leaders from neighbouring villages on October 17 at Naiamu. "We have decided that we will not stand for triple talaq. The woman is not at fault. Is the woman's role only to stay in purdah and bear children? Don't they have any freedom? We all make mistakes and we all can improve. But to give talaq like this is not the answer," he said.

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The support from the community is a far cry from a 2005 case in the same district when Imrana, raped by her father-in-law, was declared by the clergy as married to him. The clergy also announced that her erstwhile husband would now be her son. The incident took place in Kukra village, about 30 kms from Naiamu village.

The Imrana rape case sparked nationwide controversy. "It was only after much resistance that the matter was taken by the court and Imrana's father-in-law Ali Mohammad punished," recalls Rehana Adib from NGO Astitva, which campaigned against the mullahs.

Haseeb Tyagi, Asma's brother, is determined to make his brother-in-law's family pay. He has the support of his village and has so far resisted compromise offers from Hussain's family. "We will demand compensation and a penalty so that no one else can behave in such a cavalier manner," Haseeb says.

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Hussain's family from Ganjedhi village in Saharanpur says they knew nothing of this. "We didn't know he was planning to give talaq. We have not been on talking terms for the past year," Shahnazar Hussain, his brother said. As the war of words plays out, Asma and Ikra's fates hang in balance.

Served talaq, she taught herself the law and now helps other women.

Uzma Khan, a teacher in a junior college in Mumbai, was asked to quit by her husband soon after she got married in 2007. Unhappy with the dowry she had brought, her parents-in-law began mistreating her. "I was locked in a room all day and not allowed to meet anyone. Guests were told I was insane," she says.

Also Read: UP Man Gives Triple Talaq To Wife After She Rebuked Him For Stealing Mobile Phone

When Khan was four months pregnant, her husband beat her up so badly that she suffered a miscarriage. Despite that the beatings didn't stop. "Once I was beaten so badly, I had to be taken to hospital. I was served the triple talaq notice while I was still recovering," she says.

Not only did Khan take her fight to court, but she also studied law. "Everywhere I went, I was told I had been divorced under Muslim law. I was curious to know what Muslim law was and why I was not treated like an Indian," she says. Khan finally managed to get a house in her daughter's name as maintenance after divorce. Armed with a law degree, she now provides aid to other women in distress.