Aligarh chief cleric opposes triple talaq bill

AGRA: Though the Rajya Sabha has passed the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019 that seeks to ban the practice of triple talaq by making it a criminal offence, Aligarh’s chief cleric has strongly opposed it and dubbed it “illegal”.
Talking to TOI, chief cleric Mohammad Hameed said that this is a shariat issue, which has no connection with law. “Every religion has its own personal law and they take decisions on is basis,” said Hameed, adding that neither government nor law agencies should interfere in it.Rather than calling triple talaq an offence, the government’s definition making a law against instant talaq is illegal.
AMU’s Imam and religious speaker, Maulana Tasleem Rabani, said that this was the wrong decision and the governmental taken it without discussing it with the community leaders. He said, “why has the government criminalised instant triple talaq even when the Supreme Court has ruled the practice of talaq e-biddat unconstitutional”.
Another AMU faculty member and former chairman of Sunni Theology department, Mufti Zahid Ali Khan said that criminalising triple talaq is not a solution and it will not give any benefit to the society. He added that instead the government should have invited option makers and religious leaders from the community to discuss how to end such evils.
However, Muslim women have welcomed the bill and are hopeful to witness a decline in the number of such cases. “It is a big support to women,” social activist Mehrunisa said, adding that now Muslim women can oppose their exploitation.