Drop affidavit on triple talaq, Clerics to Centre

BAREILLY: On the last day of the 36th Urs-e-Noori, clerics at the influential Dargah Aala Hazrat here decided that if the Centre does not take its affidavit back for abolishing triple ‘talaq‘, the clerics would run a campaign against it and uniform civil code similar to the Shah Bano case of the late 1980s.
Urs-e-Noori is the death anniversary of Aala Hazrat’s son, Mufti Mohammed Mustafa Raza who had issued a fatwa against sterilization which was made compulsory by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during Emergency.
Spokesperson of the Dargah Aala Hazrat, Mufti Mohammed Saleem Noori said, “If Centre does not take back its affidavit filed in the Supreme Court and not support the Muslim Personal Law Board, we will run a campaign against banning of triple ‘talaq‘ and enforcement of uniform civil code. We will also put pressure on political parties to raise the issue in the Lok sabha and Rajya Sabha. The campaign will be similar to the one run during the Shah Bano case and sterilisation.”
Noori said after Muslims had protested across the country, the then government led by Rajiv Gandhi had enacted a new legislation to set aside Shah Bano verdict. “Likewise, Aala Hazrat’s son Mufti Mohammed Mustafa Raza, whose Urs is being observed, had passed a fatwa in 1978 against sterilization which was made compulsory by then government. Due to the pressure created by the fatwa, the government had to revoke its decision,” said Noori.
He added that when the Constitution of India was adopted in 1952, there were “more educated and patriotic people as compared to today’s time but they never thought of introducing uniform civil code”.
Mufti Mohammad Akhtar Raza Khan Qadiri alias Azhari Miyan, chief cleric at Dargah Aala Hazrat, released a statement that if the Centre fails to take back its stand on triple talaq, mass protests across the country will take place. “Centre government and central law commission have no right to interfere in Islamic law. Triple talaq is valid since the time of Prophet Mohammed and all courts have been passing orders considering Islamic law,” said Azhari Miyan.
During Urs-e-Noori, the clerics also opposed the decision of Saudi Arabia authorities to levy tax on pilgrims who will go to Haj more than once.