Triple talaq campaigner invites Biden, Kamala to India

Story by  ATV | Posted by  [email protected] • 3 Years ago
Shaista Amber with staff of the US Embassy in Delhi
Shaista Amber with staff of the US Embassy in Delhi

 

New Delhi

Shaista Ambar, a women rights activist, who played a key role in creating awareness against the since banned practice of triple talaq among Muslims has congratulated the US President Joe Biden for giving priority to womens’ health.

In a letter to the US President, Ambar said she appreciated “the multiple executive orders signed during your first week in the office especially the ones regarding the health of women, racial equality and climate change."

“As an Indian woman, it was encouraging to see your wise choice to have Ms Kamala Harris, a person of a similar ancestry as mine to be serving in one of the most powerful offices in the world along your side.”

She invited Biden and Kamala Harris to India’s first woman-run mosque and community centre in Lucknow, run only on solar power built by her, to see her work in climate change and communal harmony.

Shaista Ambar is also the President of the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board (AIMWPLB). She took up cudgels on behalf of Muslim women victims of instant and arbitrary divorce by men. It was on her petition that the Supreme Court asked the government to make a law banning this anti-women practice. She had translated the talaqnama (Islamic divorce document) from Urdu to Hindi and English for the comprehension of the judges.

She also received the US State Department’s International Woman of Courage award in 2018 and International Religious Freedom award in 2019.

Shaista was also honoured by the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi and its staff paid a visit to the all women’s mosque she built in defiance of women not being allowed to enter the mosque.

“I, on behalf of my entire team and fellow Indians would like to again extend our heartiest congratulations and best wishes to you. We, as the world’s largest democracy, also hope to have your government’s continued cooperation, attention and guidance in all our future endeavours to create a better, safe, prosperous and an equal world filled with love, compassion and unity,” her letter reads.