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Triple talaq petitioner demands security, writes a letter to Mamata Banerjee

  • The petitioner claimed that she is receiving death threats from her ex-husband and in-laws.
  • She now demands personal security since she believes that her life is under threat.
  • Her husband had pronounced triple talaq in 2004 over the phone from Dubai.
Triple talaq petitioner demands security writes a letter to Mamata Banerjee

The triple talaq verdict by the Supreme Court is a long way from achieving complete success unless cases like these are addressed. One of the triple talaq petitioners, inher letter to West bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, sought the latter's interference in protecting her from her ex-husband and in-laws. Alleging that she has been receiving death threats from her husband and neighbours, she demanded personal security.

The letter was written by her lawyer Nazia Elahi Khan on behalf of the petitioner Ishrat Jahan. Khan later handed over the letter to the chief minister's office after sending a copy of it to Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Speaking to the Indian Express, Khan said, "Ishrat has been receiving a lot of threat calls and the local Golabari police station is not taking any action. People pass nasty comments against her. She is facing a social boycott. The government must provide her security.”

The letter stated, "Ishrat Jahan is receiving lots of threat calls, she is being teased and as per her previous complaint, the thana is not taking any action. The local police station, Golabari, is not in a mood to provide her safety and security. So, I request you to arrange police protection for the safety and security of Ishrat Jahan. She is completely in danger and you must intervene in this matter as the petitioner of triple talaq case is living a life of a victim.”

In a handwritten letter note in Hindi, Jahan said, " was very happy after Supreme Court declared triple talaq as unconstitutional. But now, I am scared. I was twice molested by my husband’s elder brother when I registered a case against him but no action was taken, hence, I don’t trust the police anymore. I hope that you being chief minister of Bengal, would provide me security. I don’t want any financial help from the government but I have never received any help from Bengal Police in my fight for Muslim women. If anything happens to me or my children, only the police will be responsible. I hope you being a woman would understand my pain.”

However, Howrah Commissioner of Police, D P Singh said that they did not know that Jahan was facing threats. “As far as her general security is concerned, that is definitely our responsibility. But for special security of an individual, a legal procedure and court’s order are followed. It is a matter of legal framework," he said.

Jahan has been the resident of the Pilkhana area of Howrah where she was staying with her husband Murtaza, his brother and his wife since 2004. Even when Murtaza pronounced triple talaq over the phone from Dubai in 2004, she continued to stay in the house. Her lawyer further explains, "Fifteen days before the SC verdict, her husband’s second wife asked two of her children to return to their mother. Among her four children, Shaista and Zaib Alam stay with Jahan. There is no electricity at the house… She has been staying in the area for years but recently, people’s attitude towards her changed. She no more feels safe. She is being treated as an enemy of men and someone who is not a follower of Islam."

Khan now claims that she is being trolled on Facebook and social media. She said, "I have been receiving all kind of threats on Facebook. People are abusing me. They are saying that I work for RSS and that no Muslim man would marry me.”

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