Gang-Raped Several Times By Husband, Brother-In-Law After 'Triple Talaq', UP Woman Tells Police: Report

The Islamic practice of "triple talaq," which permitted a Muslim man to divorce his wife in minutes by speaking "talaq" (divorce) three times, was abolished by the Supreme Court in 2017.

(Representational Image)

Police in Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, said on Friday a woman was raped several times by her friend's husband and his brother following a 'triple talaq’. The police have registered a case against the two and also a few other people, including a cleric, identifying them as co-accused, news agency PTI reported.

According to the woman's lawsuit, she married Salman five years ago. Salman divorced her a few months ago using the illegal "triple talaq" method.

The Islamic practice of "triple talaq," which permitted a Muslim man to divorce his wife in minutes by speaking "talaq" (divorce) three times, was abolished by the Supreme Court in 2017.

"Salman subsequently persuaded the woman, on the advice of a cleric, one Guddu Haji, that he would accept her as his wife again provided she married and divorced his younger brother," her lawsuit stated.

Police are on the lookout to arrest six people in all. 

Even when she complied, the younger brother refused to divorce her, and both brothers began raping her, according to a senior police officer.

"On the assurance of Salman the woman married his brother Islam but the latter refused to divorce her. Since then, the woman has alleged that both Salman and Islam gang-raped her on several occasions," Additional Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar was quoted as saying by PTI.

The woman filed a complaint with a local court, and the FIR was filed on Monday, following the court's direction.

"Based on the complaint we have booked Guddu Haji, Salman, Islam, and three of their family members under sections of Gangrape (376 IPC), unnatural sex (377D IPC) along with sections of Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019," said the officer.

The woman was transported to the hospital for a medical examination before being brought before a magistrate to give her statement, PTI reported. 

"The accused in the case are absconding and efforts are being made to arrest them," Kumar said. 

Prior to the Supreme Court judgement, India was one of just a few nations that permitted triple talaq. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in India, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, supported the movement by Muslim women and campaigners to criminalise the practise.

(With Inputs From PTI)