Triple Talaq Bill acceptable only with amendments: AIMPLB

Hyderabad : The stage is set for the three day 26th plenary session of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), a representative organization of Muslims of all schools of thought, and all the organizations of Indian Muslims, in Hyderabad from Friday.

The conference will begin with a Working Committee session on Friday evening at the Salar-e-Millat Auditorium in the Owaisi Hospital complex. It is here that the issue of The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights o on Marriage) Bill of 2017, popularly known as the instant triple talaq will be taken up for discussion. It is on the top of the agenda.

Addressing the media on Thursday here in city, AIMPLB spokesperson Maulana Syed Khaleel-ur-Rahman Sajjad Noamani said that the bill was full of serious lacunae and flaws and if they were removed the Board is willing to accept the Bill. “Board is not against the bill but there are lacunae which violate the constitution and fundamental rights”, he said.

His strongest objection to the bill was that it surreptitiously and cleverly seeks to ban not only the instant triple talaaq, but also the institution of talaaq itself. “The Attorney General (AG) has told the Supreme Court bench during the hearing of the case that once this bill is cleared, the government will take steps to prohibit all forms of talaaq. This statement left the Supreme Court judges surprised and when they asked what will be the option before a Muslim husband if he wants to give Talaaq. To which, the AG replied that the government will pass an act later”.

Maulana Noumani said that it was a matter of shame that such a dangerous law was being sought to pass in the country which violates constitution, fundamental rights of the citizens and the women and child rights act. “No other country in the world has such a law. I feel ashamed of the Bill not only as a Muslim but as an Indian citizen”, he said, pointing out that the Bill seeks to outlaw even those methods of talaaq which have been upheld by the Supreme Court.

When asked about the possibility of AIMPLB talking to the government or the Prime Minister, Maulana Nomani said that soon after the matter came to light, the Board held an emergency meeting and wrote to the Prime Minister seeking an appointment to discuss the matter. “But such was his autocratic attitude that PMO did not give any reply to the letter”. He said that making instant triple talaaq a cognizable offence is a dangerous move as it will be open to misuse and anybody can lodge a police complaint against anybody that he has given triple Talaq. “Even if the wife denies, police can arrest him”, he said.

He urged all the political parties to go by their own conscience and come out against the bill. He thanked those parties, including partners of NDA, who, after meeting with the AIMPLB members understood the issue and opposed the bill.

The plenary will be held in three sittings on Saturday and Sunday, which will be attended by more than 500+ delegates. These will include scholars, intellectuals and representatives of Muslim organizations.

Replying to questions, the spokesman said that there was a proposal from some members to amend the Model Nikahnama or the marriage contract and add another column to take a commitment from the groom that he will not give instant or triple Talaq.

The Board working committee and general body will also discuss the Babri Masjid title issue pending before the Supreme Court and the Babri Masjid demolition case in Lucknow Court, and based on the reports of the lawyers’ panel, the next course of action will be decided.

On another question regarding threats of some Hindu organizations to take up the temple construction work at the disputed site, Maulana Noumani said, “This is a clear contempt of court. The court and the government should take action against such elements”, he said. He also said that there is no proposal before the court regarding the Babri Masjid land.

The Board will also discuss the awareness campaign among Muslims against social evils and also use of the social media like Facebook, Twitter and Telegram for the purpose.

The Board has also set up women’s wing to increase awareness among women about Islamic Laws their rights. The session will discuss its report too.

Maulana Noumani said that AIMPLB will also discuss the progress of the codification work of Islamic Law in English and also discuss the work to explain the logic and rationale behind the Shariah law. “Once this is done, it will eliminate the misunderstandings about Islam among the other communities and all the justice loving people will like the Islamic Family law”.

Another point on the agenda will be the ban on performing namaz (prayers) in the mosques under the control of Archaeological Survey of India. “It is unfortunate that while namaz is prohibited, all sorts of crimes including drinking and gambling are being committed in these mosques”. He said that the Board will take appropriate democratic action after going through the report of survey of all such mosques across the country.

The three day event will conclude with a massive public meeting in the city on Sunday evening, expected to be attended by more than a lakh people.

Also present in the meeting were, Hyderabad parliamentarian Asaduddin Owaisi who is the Organising Committee president of the Plenary, AIMPLB Secretary Maulana Khaled Saifullah Rahmani, AIMPLB Secretary Maulana Omrain Mahfooz Rahmani and AIMPLB member Maulana Rahimuddin Ansari.