Gujarat Muslim Heet Rakshak Samiti Calls Black Ribbon Protest Against UCC

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — The Gujarat Muslim Heet Rakshak Samiti has called upon the Muslims across the state to offer the Jumma prayers on April 3 by donning black ribbons on their hands to oppose the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) implemented in Gujarat. 

Addressing media persons in Ahmedabad, advocate Iqbal Ahmed Mirza expressed his views on UCC and said that the bill clearly violates Articles 14 and 25 of the Constitution. He further said that in Article 44 of the Constitution, where the implementation of UCC is talked about, many important issues like right to employment, right to education and freedom from drugs have also been mentioned. Yet the government is only emphasizing on the UCC, ignoring these important issues.

Wasif Hussain, co-convenor of  Gujarat Muslim Heet Rakshak Samit) said that as the elections approach, the BJP government repeatedly makes such efforts to boost Hindu-Muslim politics and strengthen vote bank politics.

Advocate Tahir Hakim said from a legal perspective this bill can be challenged in court. Earlier in Uttarakhand too, this bill has been challenged by the Muslim Personal Law Board. In Gujarat too, this bill will be challenged by the Muslim Personal Law Board and the Gujarat Muslim Hit Rakshak Samiti. He further said that calling this bill a “Uniform Civil Code” is itself ridiculous, because according to Article 44 of the Constitution, such a law should be applicable equally to all citizens of India and throughout the country. 

The BJP’s agenda has been to bring UCC, but since it is legally difficult to implement UCC across the country, attempts are being made to bring laws in the name of UCC in BJP-ruled states. Just as the tribal community was excluded in Uttarakhand, they are also being excluded in Gujarat. 

Also, this law does not apply to communities that live according to their traditional customs. This makes it clear that this law is being brought specifically targeting Muslims, so that their religious rights are taken away and they are removed from their personal law. There is no equality in this law and the BJP government’s agenda of political polarization is clear.

Professor Nisar Ahmad Ansari, General Secretary, Jamiat Ulema Hind said that even M.S. Golwalkar, whom the BJP and RSS consider as their guide, had opposed forced equality (uniformity). He said that “uniformity is not necessary” and that diversity in nature strengthens national unity.

Arefa Parveen,  National Secretary, JIH Women’s Department said that if this bill is being brought for the benefit of women, then first of all it is needed by women from tribal communities, who are facing many problems due to poverty, living in forest areas and lack of basic amenities. The government is presenting the issue of “halala” in a misleading way, which is condemnable. In fact, a practice like halala is considered haram in Islam. Muslim women do not want laws like UCC and are committed to their Sharia law.

Munawwar Hussain, Regional President, SIO Gujarat said that UCC is a political agenda of BJP. Through such laws, an attempt is being made to damage the secularism of the society and the equal rights of citizens. The government is targeting Muslims and trying to create division in the society by intensifying Hindu-Muslim politics. At the same time, the government is trying to divert the public’s attention from basic issues like employment and education.