The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has decided to announce a programme of nationwide protests, expressing concern over India’s recent political and social situation. At a meeting of the organisation’s executive council on Monday (June 22), there was detailed discussion of the rights of the Muslim community, religious freedom, the protection of mosques and madrasas, and the policy decisions of various states.
The Board claimed that in several BJP-ruled states, incidents targeting Muslims, including mob lynchings, the eviction and demolition of mosques and madrasas, bulldozer drives against homes, and the obstruction of religious activities, had increased. Such situations, it said, were harmful to the country’s social harmony, democratic values and stability.
The meeting decided that a fact-based report would be published on allegations that Muslims’ constitutional and religious rights were being undermined in various parts of the country. Board leaders said the matter was related not just to the interests of one community but also to India’s democratic structure and social unity.
The Board also expressed dissatisfaction with a recent high court ruling in the Kamal Maula Mosque-Bhojshala case in Madhya Pradesh. In its view, the ruling was not consistent with historical documents, government records and long-standing religious tradition. It assured the mosque committee concerned of all-out support in the ongoing case at the Supreme Court.
The meeting also criticised moves in various states to make the singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ mandatory. The Board said that imposing on any citizen or student something that conflicted with their religious belief was contrary to the religious freedom recognised by the constitution. It demanded in particular the withdrawal of the directive in schools and government-aided madrasas in West Bengal.
At the same time, the organisation welcomed an interim stay granted by the Calcutta High Court on the government directive to sing ‘Vande Mataram’ in madrasas. According to Board leaders, some parts of the song were not consistent with the monotheistic religious belief of Muslims.
The meeting also reiterated its position against efforts to implement a Uniform Civil Code. The Board argued that such an initiative conflicted with the constitutional right to religious freedom and was contrary to India’s pluralistic social order. It was decided to take the necessary legal steps in other states as well, similar to the ongoing legal battle against the relevant law in Uttarakhand.
The Board announced that it would build a nationwide mass movement demanding the protection of Muslims’ rights, the preservation of religious institutions, the maintenance of communal harmony and the establishment of constitutional rights. A decision was also taken to form a special working council for this purpose.
The meeting, presided over by the Board’s president, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, was conducted by its general secretary, Muhammad Fazlur Rahim Mujaddedi. Ulema, lawyers, community leaders and top-level Board leaders from various parts of the country took part. The decisions taken were later presented to the media at a press conference.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report