All India Muslim Personal Law Board Says No To Unform Civil Code: 'No Compromise With Sharia Law'

The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) strongly opposed the idea of a uniform or secular civil code, emphasising that Muslims will not compromise with Sharia law.

In response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech, where he advocated for a uniform civil code and criticised religious personal laws as "communal," the AIMPLB expressed deep concern.

Photo Credit: ANI

In a press release, the AIMPLB stated, "The All India Muslim Personal Law Board considers the Prime Minister's call, on the occasion of Independence Day, for a Secular Civil Code and terming religious personal laws as communal ones is highly objectionable."

Dr. SQR Ilyas, the board's spokesperson, conveyed shock at PM Modi's characterisation of personal laws based on religion as communal.

He said that Muslims in India have the right to practice laws in accordance with their religion, as guaranteed by the Shariat Application Act of 1937 and Article 25 of the Constitution of India. This article grants citizens the fundamental right to "profess, propagate, and practice religion and abide by its laws."

The AIMPLB highlighted that the family laws of other communities, besides Muslims, are also rooted in their religious and ancient traditions.

Dr. Ilyas argued that the push for a uniform civil code is an imitation of Western practices and that the directive principles cited to support it are not legally enforceable.

Dr. Ilyas also criticised the Prime Minister for using the term "secular civil code" instead of the constitutional term "uniform civil code," accusing him of deliberately misleading the public by focusing on targeting Sharia law.

He urged citizens to remember the sacrifices of freedom fighters and the vision of a free, fair, and peaceful India, warning against being polarized by "religious hatred and animosity" fostered by the Prime Minister.