The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani on Monday termed the bill criminalising triple-talaq as well as allowing the Muslim women to perform the Hajj pilgrimage without ‘mehram’ as “interference in the religious matters of Muslims and affront to the Muslim Personal Law.”
Criminalising the instant divorce practice and making it a punishable offence is condemnable, Geelani said in a statement, adding that “altering and inducing amendments without taking into consideration the Islamic jurisprudence is sheer violation of Islamic practice.”
Geelani expressed his deep concern and serious reservations over provisions of the bill, saying that “it is tantamount to infringement on rights of the Muslim community in India.”
“Interference in religious matters is unacceptable, he said, adding: “It has proved beyond doubt that BJP, RSS and Shiv Sena like fanatical factions, promoting their specific and biased dogma and ignoring the interests and trampling the rights of other communities, are hell-bent to proclaim India as ‘Hindu Rashtra.”
“They are following their hidden agenda. Their nefarious designs stand exposed as they are desperate to change fundamentals of Islam as per their will and wish.”
“Islam is emerging as popular faith and the new generation, particularly the youth, is embracing Islam as their faith, and thus the BJP and RSS led regime in New Delhi feels frustrated,” Geelani said. Appealing to the organisation of Islamic countries to take serious notice of “undue and uncalled interference by these “fanatical and biased forces”, Geelani said: “The OIC should take measures to stop this ill practice.” Geelani called for establishing a unified command council to sort out minor differences without altering the basic norms and fundamentals of Islam.