Keep away from sharia, Muslims tell Centre

MANGALURU: Various Muslim organizations that united under the banner of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi Districts Muslim Central Committee warned the central government not to interfere in sharia laws.
At Shariat Protection Convention held on Tuesday, Muslim leaders opposed the Centre’s plans of introducing uniform civil code (UCC) and declared it an impractical move. “The Muslim community strongly opposed when the idea of UCC was mooted 30 years ago.It is anti-Islamic and impractical in India, where people of various faiths and religions coexist. Moreover, it will escalate problems in the country,” said B K Abdul Khader Musliyar Khasimi, chief of Bambrana Jama Masjid after inaugurating the convention.
“It is an irony that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is keen on protection of rights of Muslim women, but has failed to protect his wife. Koran gives equal rights to women in their ancestral property. It is unacceptable to agree to the decisions taken by those who do not have knowledge on Islam, Koran and sharia. We have clergies to discuss sharia laws and talaaq. Let the government concentrate on administration,” Khasimi said.
“Triple talaaq is explained very clearly in sharia and it is not uttered on a single day. There are several steps to be followed before triple talaaq is completed. There are opportunities for the couple to reunite even after first and second talaq. Divorce as per triple talaaq becomes valid only when all the steps fail to reunite the couple,” he explained.
Karnataka Samastha Mushavara member Abdul Azeez Darimi said Muslims are united to protect sharia law in India. “Sharia is not against the Indian Constitution. Hence, it is not possible for the government to introduce UCC in India, where over 6,000 castes and sub-castes exist,” he added.
Jamat-e-Islami Hind president Muhammed Kunhi said debate on triple talaaq and UCC is irrelevant when the nation has several other major issues to be sorted out. He pointed out that Ram Jethmalani, who was the law minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, had rejected UCC as a non-practical move. “Conduct a survey to ascertain the actual number of Muslim women who suffered due to triple talaaq. In fact triple talaaq is a blessing when divorce becomes necessary for couple,” he added.
Muslim Central Committee president KS Mohammed Masood presided and vice-president Ibrahim Kodijal was present.