Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind chief Maulana Arshad Madani has strongly voiced opposition to the introduction of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill in the Uttarakhand Assembly. He asserted that Muslims would not accept any law contradicting Sharia principles.
“We do not accept any law against Sharia. Muslims can compromise on everything, but not with Sharia,” emphasized Maulana Madani. He stressed that followers of any religion cannot tolerate undue interference in their religious activities.
Madani questioned the lack of religious freedom granted to Muslims, especially when Scheduled Tribes have been exempted from the proposed bill under Article 21 (Protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution. He argued that Muslims should also be exempted from the proposed law under Articles 25 and 26, which deal with religious freedom, stating that the Uniform Civil Code violates fundamental rights.
Further, he contested the enforcement of the Uniform Civil Code under Article 44 of the Constitution, which merely suggests the State’s endeavor to secure a uniform civil code throughout India, rather than mandating it.
Madani asserted that his legal team would thoroughly review the bill and take appropriate action. He emphasized that the issue isn’t solely about Muslim personal laws but also about upholding the secular Constitution of the country. According to him, secularism in the Constitution signifies that the country has no official religion.
Highlighting the divine origin of Muslim personal laws from the Quran and the Hadith, Madani acknowledged potential jurisprudential debates but emphasized unanimity on basic principles. He condemned the Uniform Civil Code as a “well-planned conspiracy” aimed at encroaching upon citizens’ religious freedom.
Additionally, Madani pointed out inconsistencies in laws across the country, citing variations in the implementation of the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure across different states, as well as discrepancies in cow slaughter bans. He also noted that while the Supreme Court has capped reservations at 50%, some states have exceeded this limit.
