Indian Union Muslim League abducts' talaq opposition

KOZHIKODE: IUML has overwhelmed Muslim religious outfits over triple talaq and Muslim personal laws to join hands to resist the BJP government ‘sponsored’ Uniform Civil Code (UCC). At their meet convened by IUML here on October 29, it was the stand of IUML and Samastha which came out as a collective decision. Though all the different sects are in unison against UCC, differences are there in triple talaq and modification in personal laws. Two of the Mujahid sections and Jamaat-e-Islami are for a ban on triple talaq and the modifications in personal laws on the ground that it was not according to the Quranic jurisprudence but as envisioned by the British.

But Samastha, which has a significant influence on IUML, is for triple talaq and status quo in personal laws, which the IUML endorsed. “Regarding triple talaq, our stand is that it should be dealt by religious scholars as there is a difference of opinion among them. Non-modification of personal law was agreed upon by all at the meet,” said IUML national secretary E.T. Mohammad Basheer. “Triple Talaq is a non-issue. It is a bait of Narendra Modi to push in the UCC.”

Jamaat-e-Islami, which is dead against the UCC, is also known for its fierce criticism of triple talaq and personal laws in the current form. “The IUML is in a piquant situation not to invite the wrath of both Samastha and Mujahids as both are its vote banks. Mujahids are for banning triple talaq since long as it is not in the original text,” said M.N. Karasserry, who had extensively written on the topic for the past many decades. All India Islahi movement (Mujahid) general secretary Dr. Hussain Madavoor was of the opinion that talaq at a single go is un-Islamic and should be abhorred. “Regarding the personal law, it could be modified with the guidance and involvement of the scholars from the Muslim community,” he said.