Talaq in sleep:couple registers marriage
The muslim couple in West Bengal’s Jalpaiguri district, whose marriage hangs
in the balance, as the husband uttered talaq thrice in his sleep have registered their marriage in a civil court.
Aftab Ansari,(30) a brick kiln worker, had been ordered by a village Moulavi to separate from his wife Sohela, after 11 years of marriage for having uttered talaq thrice in his sleep on December 20. Aftab, who has been put under constant surveillance and was not allowed to meet any outsider, however, said that he had registered his marriage in Alipurdurar sub divisional court after the Moulavi;s ruling.
Aftab,; who conceded that he was living in constant fear due to threat from
community members, said that he has to go by their orders who are here to help him and to live with them.
A village Moulavbi, Maulana Md Kausar also warned that no outsider should speak to the couple. This is a problem of the community, we will settle it among ourselves, don’t publicise it he said..
Maulanba Kausar said that a decision regarding the fate of the marriage of Aftab would be taken by the village elders in April but refused to give details on how the matter would be dealt with.Aftab said that the move to register his marriage in a vivil court was taken after village elders decided to enforce talaq and directed the couple to live
separately.
Maulana Kausar, however said that they had not forced the couple to live separately. He said that though they had registered the marriage and were living under one roof, the marriage did not have religious sanctity.
Recounting the events of the fateful night, Aftab said,”’That night I was not in my senses and my wife said I had uttered talaq thrice in my sleep”. Subsequently, she narrated the incident innocently to her friend and from there the word spread to the rest of the muslim dominated village. The community elders, quoting shariyat law, ruled that talaq had been enforced and couple had to live separately.