Uniform Civil Code: Muslims protests at Mosques in Hyderabad

Thousands of Muslims on Friday came forward to oppose the introduction of a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in masjids in the Hyderabad city even as they supported the stand of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) of boycotting the questionnaire released by the Law Commission of India.Gatherings at several mosques were seen filling and signing a proforma which the board recently introduced. The document was a declaration of support for AIMPLB.

“We are with the All India Muslim Personal Law board to protect Shariat laws (sic),” one of the three declarations reads. Others asserted that the Constitution gave full freedom to Indians to practice their religion even as they rejected the UCC. “We are fully satisfied with the commands of the Islamic laws especially on Islamic orders related to nikah, talaq



(divorce), khola, fuskh and wirasat (heritage). We are fully satisfied with and strongly deny the possibility of any change in them (sic),” another excerpt reads.

According to city general secretary of the city chapter of the Jamiat-e-Ulama Hind, a socio-religious organisations comprising religious figures, Peer Khaleeq Sabir, signatures were taken from Muslims at mosques in Secunderabad, Hashmatpet and Amberpet, among other places.

“Several Muslims came forward and signed the forms in masjids such as Masjid-e-Zamzam in Amberpet, Jama Masjid in Secunderabad, Shahi Masjid and Hashmatpet Masjid and many others in the city,” Sabir said. Announcements were made during Friday sermons in connection with the stand of AIMPLB, he added.Forms to be filled by women were taken from several mosques.