Centre can hold referendum on triple talaq: Zafaryab Jilani

Stressing that Sharia law cannot be changed, Member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Zafaryab Jilani suggested that said the central government can hold a referendum on the issue of triple talaq. Talking to reporters here at an event last evening, Jilani claimed, "Ninety per cent Muslim women support the Sharia Law." "Union government can hold a vote on the issue of triple talaq...Muslims will not tolerate any interference in the Muslim Personal Law," the Additional Advocate General of Uttar Pradesh said. "The move of banning triple talaq is a conspiracy to impose a uniform civil code," he alleged. He, however, said in Islam divorce is considered an unpleasant act and is discouraged. On tensions between India and Pakistan, he said every Muslim is with the country to teach a lesson to the neighbouring nation. He said Pakistan was affected by its own conspiracy and even Pakistani mosques are not safe from terrorist attacks. On October 7, the Centre had opposed in the Supreme Court the practice of triple talaq, 'nikah halala' and polygamy among Muslims and favoured a relook on grounds like gender equality and secularism. The Ministry of Law and Justice, in its affidavit, referred to constitutional principles like gender equality, secularism, international covenants, religious practices and marital law prevalent in various Islamic countries to drive home the point that the practice of triple talaq and polygamy needed to be adjudicated upon afresh by the apex court.