Patna: The triple talaq bill should be sent to the Rajya Sabha select committee, which should take further decisions after vetting the rights of the Muslim community, All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member and deputy secretary of Imarat-e-Shariah, Mufti Mohammad Sanaul Hoda Qasmi, said at a programme on Saturday.

The programme was organised by the women's wing of the personal law board at the Anjuman Islamia Hall.

Qasmi, who chaired the programme, said the triple talaq bill passed by Lok Sabha goes against the right to practice religion contained in Article 25 of the Constitution. "Article 25 gives religious freedom to people. The triple talaq bill has condemned the practice of divorcing Muslim women, which is against Article 25," Qasmi said.

"Also, the matter is related to civil law but it has been put into the crime section under the bill. The world over, nikah (marriage) and talaq (divorce) happen as per civil law. India's parliament has for the first time taken a decision that it should be tested under a crime law. The triple talaq bill has not taken care of the feelings of Muslims. Our opinions have not been sought before bringing this bill," Qasmi said.

Qasmi further said that the provision of putting a husband in jail for three years if he opts for triple talaq was also not right, as it would deprive Muslim women of their financial security.

"If husbands would be in jail, how can they provide financial help to their wives? Also, if a husband spends three years in jail and then comes back, the ties between husband and wife can never be the same again," Qasmi said.

The executive member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and AIMPLB's women's wing member Asma Zahra said the Union government ignored the view of 5.81 crore Muslims who sent their signatures along with Aadhaar card numbers and other proof to the Union government as a mark of protest against the triple talaq bill.

"Muslim women have the right to remarry after divorce and after the death of their husband. The triple talaq gives Muslim women freedom to start their life anew. What if the husband keeps torturing her for years? Would it be right?" she asked.

Recently in Lucknow, Jafaryab Zilani, convener of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, was quoted as saying the Centre was making (the instant) triple talaq a criminal offence, "which doesn't happen in the case of divorce in other communities".