Muslim Women Can Claim Damages From Bigamous Husband, Rules Madras HC
New Age Islam News Bureau
26 October2024
· Muslim Women Can Claim Damages From Bigamous Husband, Rules Madras HC
· Stacey Williams, A Former Model, Alleges Trump Groped Her In Front Of Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein
· Bajrang Dal Strikes On Karwa Chauth, Objects To Muslim Women Applying Mehndi On Hindus
· Islamic Woman is angry as German Police removed her Veil
· Deputy UN Chief Emphasizes Need For ‘Collective Action And Solidarity’ To Support Women In Afghanistan
Compiled by New Age Islam News Bureau
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-bigamous-husband-madras-hc/d/133558
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Muslim Women Can Claim Damages From Bigamous Husband, Rules Madras HC
Photo: (AFP) for Representation
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October 26, 2024
Mohamed Imranullah S
A Muslim woman is entitled to claim damages/compensation from her bigamous husband since his act would amount to inflicting mental harm on her and squarely fall under the definition of the term ‘domestic violence’ under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005, the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court has held.
Justice G.R. Swaminathan also held that if a Muslim woman disputes the validity of the triple talaq (divorce) pronounced by her estranged husband, the latter must necessarily approach the courts and obtain a judicial declaration after satisfying the judge to have pronounced the talaq in the manner known to law.
He further ruled that the Shariat (canonical law based on the Quran) councils of no Jamath (a congregation of those who follow Islam) could deliver judgments on divorce. “Only courts duly constituted by the State can deliver judgments. Shariat council is a private body and not a court,” he stressed.
Justice Swaminathan’s verdict was delivered while dealing with a domestic dispute between a doctor couple. They had got married as per Islamic rites and customs in 2010 and had a son. In 2018, the woman, in government service, lodged a complaint under the 2005 Act.
A Judicial Magistrate, in 2021, allowed her plea and directed the husband to pay a compensation of ₹5 lakh to his wife for the domestic violence inflicted on her. A sessions court upheld the order in 2022 and hence, the husband had approached the High Court by way of the present criminal revision petition in 2023.
The petitioner claimed to have issued three talaq notices to his estranged wife — on August 3, 2017, September 11, 2017, and November 11, 2017 — before marrying another woman. However, the woman doctor claimed that the third notice was not served on her and therefore, asserted that her marriage continued to be in subsistence.
After hearing both sides, the judge pointed out that the definition of the term ‘domestic violence’ as set out in Section 3 of the 2005 Act “would include any act or conduct of the husband which injures or causes harm, whether physical or mental to the wife.” He said bigamy would amount to causing mental harm.
“If a Hindu/Christian/Parsi/Jew husband contracts second marriage during the subsistence of the first marriage, it would constitute cruelty besides being an offence of bigamy. It would obviously be considered an act of domestic violence entitling the wife to claim compensation under Section 12 of the Act. Will this proposition apply in the case of Muslims? The answer is yes,” the judge wrote.
He went on to observe: “It is true that a Muslim male is legally entitled to contract as many as four marriages. For this legal right or liberty, there is only a limited hohfeldianjural correlative on the part of the wife. The wife cannot stop the husband from entering into a second marriage. She, however, has the right to seek maintenance and refuse to be a part of the matrimonial household.”
Holding that a Muslim woman was entitled to claim compensation and damages for the charge of bigamy, the judge said in the present case, the revision petitioner had not produced any evidence to prove that the third talaq notice was served on his estranged wife.
Though the petitioner had relied upon a “divorce certificate” issued by the Shariat council of Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath on November 29, 2017, the judge said it “makes a shocking reading. It faults the respondent herein for not extending her cooperation.”
He also observed: “The certificate issued by the Chief Kazi of the Shariat council of Tamil Nadu ThowheedJamath concludes that Shariat judgment is accordingly delivered. Only courts duly constituted by the State can deliver judgments. Shariat Council is a private body and not a court.”
Wondering how the revision petitioner’s father could have stood as witness for the pronouncement of the Talaq before the Shariat council, Justice Swaminathan wrote: “There is a saying in Tamil: ‘Velikkuonansatchi, vendhadhukuchockansatchi’’, meaning a chameleon is the witness of the hedge and a cook boy will testify to the food having been well boiled. A father being a witness for his son’s pronouncement of the talaq is akin to this.”
Source: thehindu.com
https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/muslim-women-can-claim-damages-from-bigamous-husband-rules-madras-high-court/article68798887.ece
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Stacey Williams, A Former Model, Alleges Trump Groped Her In Front Of Sex Offender Jeffrey Epstein
A former model Stacey Williams
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26 October 2024
Phil McCausland
A former model has alleged in a CNN interview that she was groped by former President Donald Trump in the 1990s.
Stacey Williams says the incident occurred in 1993 after disgraced financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who she says she was in a relationship with at the time, brought her to meet Trump at Trump Tower in New York City.
“The second he [Trump] was in front of me, he pulled me into him, and his hands were just on me and didn’t come off,” Ms Williams told the broadcaster.
The Trump campaign has denied the claim, noting that the former model originally shared the story at an event called "Survivors for Kamala", in support of Trump's rival, the Democratic White House nominee Kamala Harris.
"These accusations... announced on a Harris Campaign call two weeks before the election, are unequivocally false," Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.
"It’s obvious this fake story was contrived by the Harris campaign to distract from the deeply concerning and newly unearthed allegations that the Second 'Gentleman,' Doug Emhoff, 'forcefully slapped' his ex-girlfriend.'"
Doug Emhoff, Harris's husband, was accused by an ex-girlfriend of slapping her in 2012, reports the Daily Mail.
The BBC has not identified the reported Emhoff ex-girlfriend, who was granted anonymity by the Mail, or the veracity of her claim.
Emhoff has denied the allegation via a spokesperson. The Harris campaign has not responded to BBC requests for comment.
Ms Williams said on CNN that Trump greeted her and his hands touched "the side of my breasts, on my hips, back down to my butt, back up... they were just on me the whole time", while Epstein and the former president smiled and talked to each other.
She described it as "an out of body experience" and said she "froze".
Shortly after the alleged incident, Williams said that she broke up with Epstein, who was arrested for sex crimes in 2019 and died by suicide while awaiting trial.
Several women have come forward accusing Trump of sexual assault since he announced his candidacy for president in 2016. He has repeatedly denied these claims.
In 2023, a civil jury found the Republican White House nominee liable for sexually abusing E Jean Carroll, a writer.
Source: bbc.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0j8wdq9pp7o
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Bajrang Dal Strikes On Karwa Chauth, Objects To Muslim Women Applying Mehndi On Hindus
25TH OCTOBER 2024
Tension gripped New Delhi’s Karol Bagh area on Saturday, October 19, as Hindutva activists tried to stop Burqa-clad women from applying Mehndi, also known as Henna, on Hindu women on the eve of Karwa Chauth.
Karwa Chauth is a Hindu festival celebrated by women in Northern and Western India in October or November, in which they fast from sunrise to moonrise praying for the safety and long life of their husbands. Getting Mehndi applied during Karwa Chauth is a cherished ritual for women participating in the festival. Karol Bagh in West Delhi is a popular destination for this purpose.
In a video that has surfaced online, some men are seen chastising the Hindu women for opting for the services of Burqa-clad women despite the “atrocities on the Hindu community by Muslims”. “Do you care about your religion? Do you care about your festivals?”, a man is heard asking the Hindu women. They accuse Muslims of “murdering Hindu women and stuffing them in refrigerators” and committing ‘Love Jihad’. The group also slam the Muslim women for wearing a burqa on Karwa Chauth. “At least today, they could have worn suits. They are flaunting their identity, they’re working in their burqas”, one person is heard saying. It is pertinent to note that children were also present at the scene.
The video below is followed by a transcription of what is said, and a translation.
Behenji, humaribehenbetiyonkobechajatahai, humarimaaonkobechajatahaiyeh logon kesaath. Nahi nahi, aapkhadehoeye. Humare Hindu samajke koi bhibetinahilagayegi. Aap logon kosharamaatihaiyanahiaatihai?… Aap logon koapnadharampyarahai? Apna tyohaarpyarahai? Inn jaisi logon kesaathlagarahehaiaap?… Humare udhar Hindu bhaibeheneylagarahihai, udharmaatabeheneylagarahihai, unselagaiyena. Humare samajkajitnabura inn logon kaamkarrakhahaiaap logon kodikhainahideta? Burqa pehenkelagarahehai, Hinduonkatyohaar Hindu nahibanapayengekya?… Yehkaunsatareeekahai, burqa phenekelagarahehai. Areyaajke din suit pehenlete, aajtohapna identity chhupadete… Aaj bhi tum logon koapnadikhanathaki burqa pehenke hum lagarahehai. Yehkaunsadikharahe ho aaplog? Humara Hindu samajisitareeke se tohbramhit ho rakhahai… Humlogonkesaath jo atyachaar ho rahahai, aaye din humaribehenbetiyonkokaatke fridge o keandar pack kartehai, uskebaadbhiaap log nahisamajhte. Humare Hindu samaajnahisamajhta, humarebehenbetiyannahisamajhti… Love jihad ho rahahaihumaribehenbetiyonkesaathmein… Aaye din kaatkaatkephnekajaarahahai, aaye din kaatkaatkeunko fridge o keandar bandh kiyajaarahahai… Uske baadbhimerimatabeheneyyahanbaithihaidekho… Arey Hindu lagarahehainaudhar, aur Hindu bhaihaiwohlagayenge, kyadikkathai, inn burqonwalo se lagwaogekyaaap? Humara Hindu samajbilkulgayaguzraa ho chukahaikya? Humare log bilkul (inaudible) ho chukehaikya jo kisikosamajhmeinnahi aa raha… Humaribehenbetiyonkokaatkaatkephnektehai, fridge o keandardaaltehai, uskebaad app inlogon se Mehndi lagwarahehai… AreyHinduonkatyohaarhai, Hindu nahimanayega, yeh log manayenge, burqa pehenkebaithehai… Areyaapkokisikokuchsamajhmein aa rahahai? Aaj ke din bhikam se kam suit salwar pehenlete… Identity dikharahehaiapni, “hum burqekeandarkaamkarrahehai”… Kuchsamajhmeinaatahaiaaplogonko? Phirbaadmeinaatehai Bajrang Dal kepaasmein, RSS walonkepaasmein, humarebetiko le gaye Love Jihad karke, humaribetikokaatdiya… Uss time peaate ho aaplog Hindu sangathonkepaasmein… Bhaisaabaapkuchboliye… Wahan pelagarahihaina, wahalagwao… Aaj ke din bhi inn log burqa pehenkekaamrahehai…
[Translation: Sister, our daughters are being sold, our mothers are being sold along with these people. No No, you get up. No one from our Hindu community will apply Henna (from them). Do you have some shame or not?… Do you love your faith? Do you love your festival? You’re letting people like them apply Henna on you? Hindu sisters are applying it there, our mothers and sisters there are applying it, go to them, no? Don’t you see how much damage these people have done to our community? They are applying Henna wearing burqas… will Hindus not be able to celebrate Hindu festivals anymore? What is this? applying Henna while wearing burqas? At least today they could have worn a suit, hiding their identity. Even today, you want to show that you’re applying it wearing a burqa. What are you trying to show us? This is why our Hindu community is so troubled… The atrocities being done to us, our sisters and daughters are being cut up and stuffed into fridges, and even after that, you people don’t understand. Our Hindu society doesn’t understand, our sisters and daughters don’t understand… Love Jihad is happening with our sisters and daughters. Day after day, they are being killed and thrown away, stuffed into fridges. Even after all that, our mothers and sisters are still sitting here… Look, Hindus are applying it there, Hindu brothers are there, let them apply it. What’s the issue? Why do you want these people in burqas to apply it? Has our Hindu society completely lost its way? Have our people become so (inaudible) that no one understands this? Our sisters and daughters are being killed and thrown away, stuffed into fridges, and even after that, you’re letting these people apply Henna. It’s a Hindu festival, will Hindus not celebrate it, will these people celebrate it, sitting here wearing burqas? Does anyone understand anything? At least today, they could have worn suits. They are flaunting their identity, “We are working in burqas”. Do you people understand anything? Later, you will come to Bajrang Dal, RSS, saying they did ‘Love Jihad’ with our daughter, they killed our daughter. You come to Hindu organizations at that time. Brother, you say something. They’re applying it there, go and have it applied there. Even today, they are working in burqas.]
While a tall man in an orange t-shirt says the above, his compatriots make similar observations and film the incident. One is heard saying, “Kischeez se Indian ho aap?” (Translation: From which angle are you an Indian?), another comments. “Humsein hi kamarahehai, humein hi kharahehai… yehgalathai” (Translation: They’re taking our money and harming us only… this is unfair).
Alt News was able to geolocate the exact location of the incident. In the background, a building with the name ‘Lakh Datar Tower’ is visible. We located the building to Beadonpura, Karol Bagh in the national capital. Below is a comparison of a key frame from the video and a photo from Google.
We also found that the place of occurrence was 160 metres from the Karol Bagh police station. Alt News contacted the SHO of Karol Bagh on October 21 who informed us that the police were still trying to verify the chain of events.
In the meantime, Alt News was able to identify the individuals who were seen harassing the women.
Who were the Harassers?
We found additional footage of the incident in an Instagram video uploaded by a Bajrang Dal worker from the Karol Bagh chapter. The video shows women getting Mehndi applied by burqa-clad women, seated in various groups. A group of men, led by a man in an orange t-shirt, is seen moving from spot to spot, harassing and shouting at the women for choosing Muslim women to apply their Mehndi.
The man in an orange t-shirt, who appears to be the leader of the group is Vijay Khichi, also known as Vijay Kumar, the district coordinator for Bajrang Dal’s Karol Bagh chapter. We found an image on Facebook of Vijay wearing the same t-shirt as worn in the viral video. See comparison below:
At the end of the viral video, one person can be seen filming the incident on his phone. A discernible feature that we noticed was a Kadha (metal bangle) on his right hand. Alt News was able to identify him as Sonu Yadav, the district security chief of the Karol Bagh chapter of Bajrang Dal. See comparison below:
Who is Vijay Khichi?
Upon investigation, we found that Vijay is a regular attendee at Bajrang Dal and VHP events in the area.
Vijay has been photographed with the former and the current deputy commissioners of the municipal corporation of Delhi for the Karol Bagh Zone.
In August 2023, Alt News had documented hate speeches delivered at a protest rally organised by Bajrang Dal in Karol Bagh after the communal clashes in Nuh, Haryana. Several inflammatory statements were made during the rally, including insinuations that if the administration failed to let the Hindus complete their rally, VHP and Bajrang Dal would ‘take matters into their own hands.’ Open threats of violence were also made against Muslims. Vijay was seen at the forefront of the rally raising slogans as his supporters and compatriots chimed in.
Alt News contacted police again on October 24. We were not provided with any updates, and the officer dismissed our questions stating that “the incident was not very significant.” This is notwithstanding the fact that the incident took place at the heart of the national capital barely 150 meters from a police station. In our view, the dismissive attitude of police and the resultant impunity with which Hindutva ‘activists’ were able to spread communal hatred and harass women from both the communities serve as a stark reminder of the increasingly normalization of such hate-mongering in the country.
Source: altnews.in
https://www.altnews.in/karwa-chauth-bajrang-dal-strikes-in-karol-bagh-objects-to-muslim-women-applying-mehndi-on-hindus/
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Islamic Woman Is Angry As German Police Removed Her Veil
SIBY JEYYA
26/10/2024
An incident involving a Muslim woman in Germany who claims that police officers forcibly removed her veil has sparked a discussion about religious freedom, law enforcement boundaries, and cultural respect.
The woman, who expressed outrage over the removal of her veil, views the act as a violation of her religious rights and personal dignity, as the veil holds significant religious and cultural importance in her life. For many Muslim women, wearing a veil or hijab is not merely a personal choice but an expression of faith and identity.
Such incidents can create feelings of alienation, as they challenge a woman’s autonomy over her appearance and religious expression in a public space. By taking her case to court, the woman is standing up for what she sees as an infringement of her rights, hoping to seek justice and ensure respect for religious customs.
From the perspective of law enforcement, the removal of a face veil can sometimes be part of routine security checks, especially if identification is required. In such cases, police officers may request the temporary removal of face coverings to verify identities for safety reasons. However, forcefully removing a veil, if it occurs as the woman claims, raises concerns about sensitivity, respect for cultural practices, and procedural correctness.
German law supports religious freedom, and while face coverings can sometimes be subject to regulations in specific scenarios (such as courtrooms or while giving identification), these procedures are generally expected to be handled with sensitivity. Actions perceived as aggressive or culturally insensitive can harm the relationship between immigrant communities and law enforcement, making it harder to build trust and cooperation.
Source: indiaherald.com/
https://www.indiaherald.com/Breaking/Read/994757683/Islamic-Woman-is-angry-as-German-Police-removed-her-Veil
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Deputy UN Chief emphasizes need for ‘Collective Action and Solidarity’ to support women in Afghanistan
By Fidel Rahmati
October 25, 2024
Speaking at the UN Security Council’s Open Debate on Women and Peace and Security, Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed emphasized the need for “collective action and solidarity” to support women in Afghanistan.
Amina highlighted that the regression of women’s rights in Afghanistan shows the severe consequences of excluding women from governance and society. She stressed the importance of reinforcing support for women’s rights, agency, and inclusion.
SimaBahous, UN Women Executive Director, noted that millions of Afghan women and girls are denied education and opportunities. Despite these challenges, women have taken the initiative to open schools in their homes.
The Taliban claims that women and girls’ rights are guaranteed under Sharia law. However, the reality on the ground reflects ongoing restrictions on education and employment for women.
The plight of Afghans, particularly women, remains dire as poverty and humanitarian crises escalate. Many families struggle to meet basic needs, while women face increasing barriers to education beyond sixth grade and employment opportunities.
Urgent action is needed to address these challenges and ensure that Afghan women can reclaim their rights and participate fully in society. The international community must continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of all Afghans.
Source: khaama.com
https://www.khaama.com/deputy-un-chief-emphasizes-need-for-collective-action-and-solidarity-to-support-women-in-afghanistan/
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URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/muslim-bigamous-husband-madras-hc/d/133558