Muslim clerics up against Uniform Civil Code

HYDERABAD: Muslim clerics, religious and political figures late on Sunday night came down heavily against any attempt at introducing a Uniform Civil Code (UCC).
At a well attended public meeting "Against UCC and Protection of Sharia Conference" in Khilwat grounds, organised by the Seerat-un-Nabi Academy, a religious organisation, speakers said that the Muslim community will not accept an imposition of the UCC.
Former member of Rajya Sabha Obaidullah Khan Azmi, who was active during the Shah Bano controversy, was invited to speak. Addressing the gathering, he accused the right wing organisations of dividing the country. "The British left. But they left behind the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh ," he said adding that Muslims could expect little from the Narendra Modi government. He lashed out against the slogans of gharwapsi and love-jihad.
Addressing the youth in particular, Azmi said that in 1986, he had warned the Rajiv Gandhi against the UCC.
Describing the UCC as a dead issue, he said, "Dr B R Ambedkar was told that Muslims would never accept a common civil code. He [Ambedkar] knew that only a mad man would introduce UCC. He therefore clarified that it is not mandatory." Those who are enemies of the country will impose a UCC, he claimed.
Citing articles of the Constitution, Azmi said, "Nobody can interfere in the religion and religious practices of any person. This is a secular country. What is a secular state? And why is secularism being tarnished?"
Maulana Fazlullah Qadri, prominent Muslim cleric from the Islamic seminary Jamia Nizamia, described oral triple talaq as a "bandooq ki goli" (bullet). He said that divorce is frowned upon in the scriptures.
Asserting that Muslims will come to defend the "faith" if it is challenged, Mufti Ziauddin Naqshbandi, another cleric, said that any move to interfere in Muslim personal laws will not be tolerated. "When there are so many differences in cultures across the country, how will they impose UCC?"
City president of the Jamiat-e-Ulama Hind, a pan-India socio-religious organisation, said that the move to impose UCC, is an "old trick". This, he added, will be opposed.
Also present were Jamia Nizamia chancellor and former AP State Wakf Board Member Syed Ali Akbar Nizamuddin Hussaini, Shiite cleric Raza Agha and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislator Ahmed Pasha Quadri, among others.