The board has opposed the bill and had written a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to withdraw the bill
While All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) opposed the triple talaq bill, government questioned the very existence of the board and also their credibility on Thursday. Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar questioned how the body became representative of the community. The minister also connoted them as jaahil (ignorant) men on the issue of Muslim Women (Protection Of Rights On Marriage) Bill which makes instant triple ban illegal and a punishable offence.
Even before the bill was introduced, Zafaryab Jilani, an AIMPLB member, termed it as government's attempt to make political gains. "The Central government's approach is based on their political interests. They don't have anything to do with Muslim women; they are only doing it for political gains," Jilani said.
During the discussion on the bill in Lok Sabha, Akbar questioned, "What is the credibility of All India Muslim Personal Law Board? Who chose them to be community representatives?" While backing the bill, he said that the law is not against talaq, but against instant talaq or talaq-e-biddat.
The board has opposed the bill and had written a letter to the Prime Minister urging him to withdraw the bill. In the letter, AIMPLB stated that it is "against the welfare of Muslim women at large, and it shall harm the interest of Muslim Women and the family".
Akbar also cited Quran to emphasise that women's rights are important. He said it is stated in Quran that there will be no atrocities on women in the name of God, and added "but even 1,400 years later, some jaahil men continue to do so."
"I'm speaking as a Muslim. There is poison being spread that Islam is in danger. There is nothing that is in danger. Only a few Muslim men are feeling vulnerable. A true Muslim will never believe that Islam is in danger," he said.
Earlier in the day, the Bill which seeks to criminalise the practice of instant triple talaq was tabled in Lok Sabha by Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad.
Prasad said the proposed law is for women's rights and justice and not regarding any prayer, ritual or religion.
Reacting to it, Jilani said the parliamentarian was "misleading the Parliament" citing that apart from prayer, and ritual, the divorce law is also protected by Article 25 of the Constitution.
"Supreme Court has said in its judgment that divorce law too is an integral part of Muslim personal law, which is protected by Article 25. What he (Prasad) is saying is against the order of the Supreme Court," Jilani said.
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