Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Nov 17: The Human Rights Protection Foundation (HRPF) is fighting to give justice to a mother, who is having sleepless nights after her husband abducted their two children.
Rishana Nilofer of Ullal, who has delivered her third child on September 10, is having sleepless nights after her husband took their first two children to gulf, without informing her.
Rishana daughter of renowned businessman Siddhiabba was married to Shanib employed in Abu Dhabi, eight years ago. On September 8, he arrived Mangaluru as Rishana was about to deliver their third child. On September 10, a girl was born to the couple, whom they named Nuha Mariam.
On September 18, Shanib took their first two children Sheraz (6) and Zuha (1.5) out on the pretext of buying them ice-cream. However, he took them to Abu Dhabi and informed Rishana at around 10 pm. For the next two days, he kept his wife updated about the children through whatsapp images. After that he cut communication with her.
On October 1, a helpless Rishana approached the HRPF with her 20 day old baby. She was panic stricken and on the verge of depression and HRPF members counselled her and advised her to file a police complaint as well as approach Jamaat to resolve the dispute peacefully. However, even after two months of abduction, the elders of the community couldn’t succeed in resolving the dispute.
Abusive marriage
Rishana’s marriage to Shanib was an arranged one. Her parents gifted 130 pawans of gold and a flat in Mangaluru to Shanib’s family as per their demand. The marriage was solemnized with the consent of both families in the presence of the seniors of the Jamaath.
Ever since Rishana got married, she was ill treated by her husband and mother-in-law. She was always taunted and degraded on the ground that she was not well qualified. She often had to face physical and emotional abuse that led to mental agony. All the basic needs including clothing were provided by her own parents, even after marriage. She was always treated like a slave by her husband and mother-in-law. Rishana told HRPF that she was allowed to have her dinner only after her mother-in-law returned home at midnight.
Support from the Muslim social organisations
Many Muslim social organisations extended their moral support towards Rishana. Samman Counselling Centre have contacted Kannadiga friends in Abu Dhabi who have promised to resolve this dispute amicably.
Legislation in this regard
A committee of advocates from HRPF has submitted a detailed report after analysing the entire case law. As per the Muslim Sunni sect, a girl child shall be in the custody of the mother till she attains puberty and a boy child till he attains the age of 7.
Complaint to the External Affairs Ministry
Since 2 months, no important member of the community or social organisations succeeded in resolving this problem. Though a complaint was filed at Ullal police station on October 11, they have not taken any action in this regard. Currently, there is no communication from Rishana’s husband and his family members. To proceed legally, HRPF has already contacted advocates.
HRPF has submitted a detailed report in this regard to Sushma Swaraj, External Affairs Minister.
HRPF president Ravindranath Shanbhag demands that the Indian Embassy has to take immediate action to bring the children back to their mother, otherwise there is a possibility of the mother’s life being endangered.