The Hindu : National : "BJP exploiting Imrana case"

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Friday, Jul 08, 2005

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National

"BJP exploiting Imrana case"

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The All-India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) has condemned the "political exploitation" of the Imrana case by the Bharatiya Janata Party to promote its "agenda" of religious assimilation of the community through imposition of a common civil code in place of its Shariat-based personal laws.

In a statement here on Thursday, AIMMM president Syed Shahabuddin said no civil code could eliminate incestuous relationships from society. Many such cases were reported from Hindu community also though they violated the Hindu code.

Two aspects

The Imrana case had two aspects, which needed to be dealt with differently. The criminal aspect or the alleged rape or molestation must be dealt with under the law of the land. On the question whether the `nikah' (marriage) between a Muslim woman and her husband stood dissolved after she was raped by her father-in-law, schools of Islamic jurisprudence had different opinions. In any case, a fatwa, was an opinion and not a judicial verdict, Mr. Shahabuddin said.

The All-India Muslim Personal Law Board was expected to hold a meeting soon to reach a consensus, keeping in view the circumstances of the case and the demand of justice, one of the basic principles of Islam.

The AIMMM appealed to the media not to "blow out of proportion'' individual cases in the interest of inter-faith understanding or read a stray fatwa as a final ruling under the Shariat. It also asked muftis to refrain from issuing fatwas in sensitive situations, unless they were approached by the parties concerned, and without investigating the circumstances.

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