The All India Muslim Personal law Board (AIMPlB) would continue to defend triple talaq, though the Union Government filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court on Friday against the practice. Besides, putting up its point of view in the court the Board would go among the community to seek its support by launching a signature campaign in its favor.
The AIMPlB member Arif Masood while talking to The Pioneer said the Government’s affidavit was filed without taking into account the Board’s views, despite it having written to both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministers concerned. “We don’t claim to represent all Muslims, but we do represent some. We wanted our views to be taken on board, and yet we are not surprised that they weren’t,” Masood said.
Stressing that Sharia law cannot be changed, Masood suggested that said that the Central Government can hold a referendum on the issue of triple talaq.
He claimed, “Ninety per cent Muslim women support the Sharia law. Union Government can hold a vote on the issue of triple talaq. Muslims will not tolerate any interference in the Muslim Personal law. The move of banning triple talaq is a conspiracy to impose a uniform civil code.”
He, however, said in Islam divorce is considered an unpleasant act and is discouraged. The AIMPlB would soon launch a signature campaign to put forth its view before the Government, he added.
He said the BJP-led Government was using the personal law to run its “own agenda” against the Muslim community.
“The affidavit will be firmly contested by us, it is against the Constitutional rights accorded to us, the Supreme Court has no power to legislate on religion. There are at least two statutes that allow application of Shariat,” he said
Muslims, he said, were being unduly treated by the Government that turned a blind eye to the personal laws or religious observances of other minorities.
Notably, on October 7, the Centre had opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism.
The Ministry of law and Justice, in its affidavit, referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.