VOA慢速英语--印度禁止传统的穆斯林“即时”离婚
时间：2019-01-03 作者：英语课 分类：2018年VOA慢速英语(九)月
India Bans Traditional Muslim 'Instant' Divorce
The Indian government has approved a measure to help enforce a top court decision on a centuries old Muslim custom. The approval came after the government failed to get Parliament to act on the decision.
A year ago, the high court ruled against the custom of triple “talaq.” The court found that it was unlawful for Muslim men to end a marriage by simply saying a single word three times. It ruled this violated the constitutional rights of Muslim women.
Many of India’s 170 million Muslims follow the Muslim Personal Law for family disputes. The laws include giving men permission to end their marriages by saying the Arabic word for divorce - “talaq” - three times. The word can be said anytime and anywhere, even as part of a telephone call or text message.
The government will have another six months to get parliament’s approval for the new ordinance 1 to become law. For now, Indian officials can use the measure to take legal action against suspects.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that nearly 22 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, have banned the custom. He appealed to the opposition 2 to approve the Muslim Women Protection of Rights on Marriage Bill.
India’s Muslim Law Board had told the court that they did not like the custom, but it opposed any court interference in religious issues. The board’s members asked that the subject of triple talaq be left to the Muslim community. But several Muslim activists 3 condemned 4 the position of the Law Board.
After the Supreme 5 Court decision, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government proposed a bill that would criminalize the custom. The bill was approved in December by the lower house of Parliament, where Modi’s party has a majority. But it has yet to be approved by the upper house, where the opposition has the majority.
The main opposition Congress party is opposing the bill because of the three-year prison sentence for the offenders 6. It wants a less severe sentence. It also wants a parliamentary committee to discuss the issue to find a compromise.
In India, triple talaq has continued because of laws that give Muslims, Christians 7 and Hindus permission to follow religious laws in marriage and other family issues.
While most Hindu personal laws have been changed over the years, Muslim laws have been left to religious leaders and are rarely changed.
I’m Susan Shand.
Words in This Story
instant - adj. becoming something very quickly
ordinance – n. a regulation made by the government
divorce - n. the ending of a marriage
triple – adj. three times
- The Ordinance of 1785 provided the first land grants for educational purposes.1785年法案为教育目的提供了第一批土地。
- The city passed an ordinance compelling all outdoor lighting to be switched off at 9.00 PM.该市通过一条法令强令晚上九点关闭一切室外照明。
- The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
- The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。
- His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
- Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
- He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。
- Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
- Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。
- Christians of all denominations attended the conference. 基督教所有教派的人都出席了这次会议。
- His novel about Jesus caused a furore among Christians. 他关于耶稣的小说激起了基督教徒的公愤。