New Delhi: The government is seemingly focused only on the issue of ‘triple talaq’ when it comes to Muslims, while ignoring their other concerns, the Jamaat-e- Islami Hind (JIH) alleged today.
The JIH also announced a campaign to enlighten Muslims across the country on personal laws, contending that large sections of the community “lack knowledge” about the same.
The religious body said it will hold the campaign from April 23 to May 7, aiming to reach out to five crore Muslims across the country.
“Such an atmosphere has been created as if it (triple talaq) is leading to injustice to women. Such a situation has emerged that it seems the government is focused on only this issue and that there is no other issue troubling Muslims,” JIH chief Maulana Syed Jalaluddin Umari told reporters here.
Umari, also vice president of All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), said that no one endorses ‘triple talaq in one sitting’, but stressed that there is no provision in the personal laws which leads to exploitation of women.
“Last year, five crore Muslims, including women mostly, made submission to the Law Commission saying there is no problem with personal laws.
“They told the commission about their other problems. But despite that it appears the government is focusing on only this issue (of triple talaq),” he added.
He said there were several misconceptions about Muslim personal laws.
AIMPLB member Mohammed Jafar, who accompanied Umari during the briefing, said the JIH will hold the mass outreach programme, organising 700 public meetings and as many symposiums on gender justice in parts of the country.
“We will hold programmes in capitals of states. There will be press briefings, we will distribute pamphlets to community members…we will reach out to villagers and slum dwellers,” he said, adding that they would also reach out to non-Muslims.
To a question, Umari sought to suggest the percentage of Muslims seeking divorce in proportion with their populace is lesser than that of other religions.
He, however, did not elaborate on that point.
The JIH also released a booklet titled ‘Muslim Personal Law: Moral and Legal Issues’ during the briefing and announced launch of a mobile application ‘Muslim Personal Law Awareness Campaign’ (MPLAC).
The application will help enlighten community members, it said.
The Centre had on October 7 last year opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, ‘nikah halala’ and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism.
—PTI