NEW DELHI: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) on Sunday refuted reports that had claimed that the Board had proposed to set up Shariat courts in all districts across the country, stating that new shariat courts will only be established at places where it is required.
Accusing the ruling BJP and its parent ideologue RSS of politicizing the issue of Sharia courts, the AIMPLB clarified that it will only set up new shariat courts where people want it because it is the local Muslim population which comes together to fund such courts. "We never talked about setting up Shariat courts in all districts across the country. Our motive is to set them up in places where it is required and where people want them," said Zafaryab Jilani, spokesperson of the AIMPLB.
In a meeting in the capital on Sunday, the Board also discussed another important issue-Nikah Halala-in the backdrop of Supreme Court's hearing on a batch of petitions filed against the practice. The AIMLB made it clear that it would tell the apex court that the practice "cannot be challenged since it is Quranic".
"Nikah Halala is a practice where you cannot marry your wife again after divorce unless she marries and consummates the marriage with someone else. It is a must that the wife is divorced again. This is what the Quran says and the board cannot have a different opinion," said Jilani.
He, however, said that the Board was against misuse of the practice and people who indulge in exploiting women in the name of Nikah Halala should be dealt by law.
Earlier this month, it was reported that the AIMLB, the highest decision making body on Muslim affairs, had announced that it plans to open Darul-Qaza (Shariat courts) in all districts of the country to resolves issues in line with Islamic laws.
The supposed announcement of AIMLB was criticized both by BJP as well as the Congress. Congress leader Rajiv Shukla had termed the idea as unconstitutional. At present, there are 40 such courts in Uttar Pradesh. The objective of Darul-Qaza, commonly known as a Sharia court, is to resolve matters in light of Shariat laws.
On Sunday, Jilani further clarified that Shariah boards were not courts. "BJP-RSS is doing politics in the name of Shariat courts," he said at a press conference in the capital. Jilani also said that the organization will hold workshops to create awareness about the Shariat courts across the country.
He also said that five new Darul Qaza centres will soon be opened in the country, including one each in Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra. "Five more requests for Darul-Qaza centres are pending," he said.