Muslim organisation slams govt over triple talaq

'Those demanding ban on polygamy only a tiny minority'

Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), one of the prominent Muslim organisations, has come out firmly against the government’s stand on triple talaq.

It said those clamouring against triple talaq and demanding a ban on polygamy were a minuscule minority and were not representatives of the Indian Muslim community.

“Muslims consider divorce, polygamy and other personal laws as an intrinsic part of their religion and are hence obliged to follow the Sharia in those matters. Muslims will not accept any interference in their personal law,” JIH chief Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari said in a statement.

The government should respect this position of Muslims instead of conspiring to put an end to the system of triple talaq, he demanded.

“The government cannot force Muslims to follow other communities in issues related to personal laws as it would amount to an infringement on their fundamental rights. Efforts to impose a Common Civil Code in the name of social reform and gender justice will prove counterproductive," he added. The JIH president underlined that the Constitution of India has guaranteed freedom to profess, practice and propagate one’s own religion.

“This inviolable freedom is given to every individual and enshrined as a fundamental right in our Constitution. The government should not interfere in the belief and religion of any citizen,” he said.

Umari said the JIH completely stands by All India Muslim Personal Law Board on the issue, describing it as an “authentic representative body of Indian Muslims.”

“All major Muslim organisations and a vast majority of the Muslim community stand solidly by the board and will not accept any interference in their personal law.

“Those trying to sow the seeds of dissension among Muslims will never succeed. Those clamouring against triple talaq and demanding a ban on polygamy are a minuscule minority and are not representatives of the Indian Muslim community,” he added.

Umari noted that the issue of triple talaq and polygamy had been “blown out of proportion with the sole motive of portraying Muslims as being patriarchal and misogynistic” while the percentage of polygamy amongst Muslims was negligible.

“It is not mandatory for Muslims to practice polygamy but permission to have more than one wife does exist, albeit under certain conditions,” he said.