All India Muslim Personal Law Board forms women's wing

In a first, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board on Sunday decided to form a women's wing to look into burning issues such as talaq, even as it passed a resolution in favour of triple talaq.

The resolution passed at the AIMPLB's three-day convention, which concluded today, stated that the government was infringing into the personal laws of Muslims.
The women's wing would also deal with other issues like family disputes and education, AIMPLB secretary Zafaryab Jellani told a press conference here after the convention.
It decided to launch an all-India Muslim women helpline, a toll free call centre in Urdu, English and eight regional languages to counsel and guide Muslim women on family disputes to go to the Darul-Qaza.

"It has been decided for the first time that we will form a women's wing to go into issues concerning Muslim women and an all-India Muslim women helpline, a toll-free call centre in Urdu English and 8 regional language," Kamal Farooqi, a member of AIMPLB said.

"It seems that the government is bringing up this issue of Triple Talaq and Uniform Civil Code ahead of UP polls in order to communally polarise people and reap political dividends," he said.

The AIMPLB said it wanted to be the part of a discussion with the government, though the government did not bother to hear their views.
"It is the opinion of the AIMPLB that the Shariah laws have their origin in the Holy Quran and the Sunnah. These Shariah laws are divine laws and cannot be modified changed or altered by any person or authority," Farooqi said.

The point of view of AIMPLB has been explained in detail through the affidavit filed before the honourable Supreme Court, he said.
"The moment we came to know that the Central government is going to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court, we approached the Prime Minister and five cabinet ministers through a registered post to get the point of view of the board, which represents all schools of thought in the country, heard.
Unfortunately, the predetermined mind of the government did not think it fit to know the AIMPLB's point of view," he added.

Farooqi alleged that the questionnaire prepared by the Law Commission fell short of professionalism.

"The questionnaire prepared by the Law Commission not only falls short of professionalism regarding such a sensitive issue, but smacks of the intention of the present-day government to meddle with professional laws and bringing in the uniform civil code through the back door," he said.

He, however, hoped that that good sense would prevail in the government and it would withdraw its affidavit filed in the apex court.
The board has now prepared its own questionnaire and circulated it among Muslims for signatures in support of triple talaq.

"Lakhs of Muslim women have supported AIMPLB on its stand on triple talaq and the issue is a tool used by the government to interfere in AIMPLB's affairs. The government is trying to project Muslim women as suppressed and oppressed, which is wrong," Asma Zahra, executive member of AIMPLB, said.