LUCKNOW: The All India Muslims Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has expressed its dissent with the central government over the latter's stand of leaving the onus on the Supreme Court on decriminalization of homosexuality. Calling homosexuality a sin, a hazard to society and fabric of family, AIMPLB appealed to the government to oppose the homosexuality petition in court saying that the government’s neutral stance is against the religions, traditions and ethics of the country.

The committee also said that while the Law Commission had sent the body a questionnaire pertaining to Muslim personal law and AIMPLB takes a unanimous stand of not accepting any change in Muslim personal law as it being 'law of God.' It also cleared that the Board never backed Nikah Halala and never called it a part of Islam.

Holding a meeting of its working committee members in New Delhi on Sunday, AIMPLB said that all religions consider gay marriage a sin and that it should remain under the purview of criminality. The Board also said that it will not at any cost accept any amendment in the Muslim personal law since it is a belief in Muslims that it the law of God which cannot be changed.

"The Sharia law takes into consideration all aspects of human nature, family and social matters and every right is balanced. Muslims have no right to make any change in personal law. The Law Commission questionnaire sent to us will be answered by experts and a delegation of the Board will meet the Chairman and explain the stand clearly," said spokesperson and secretary of the Board, Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani.

The meeting also discussed the issue of Babri Masjid again and repeated that Babri Masjid is a mosque and that the case in Supreme Court is a case of title suit and therefore decision should be for title or ownership.

"AIMPLB has been appealing in the case with proper preparation utilizing services of professional advocates with Rajeev Dhawan leading the team of qualified lawyers. Board members have also prepared expert notes based on Fiqh and Shariah view points on the issue and translations of these have been done in English and Hindi languages and handed over to senior lawyers. AIMPLB hopes and expects justice will be delivered by the supreme court," said Maulana Rahmani.

Reiterating that the expansion of Darul Qazas or arbitration and counselling centers is not in any sense a Shariah court, the Board said, "Darul Qazas are there to resolve marital and family disputes through mediation and arbitration and we appeal to Muslim community to approach them for their family disputes. This will help in lowering burden on family courts and be cheaper, easier for women to approach and not too lengthy a process. Both the parties can solve their disputes amicably."

The Board also decided to expand the role of its 'Tafheem-e-Shriat' committee to eradicate misconceptions and confusions in society around Islam and the lack of its knowledge. This will mean including intellectuals, advocates in seminars of special lectures across India. It also said that the social reform committee will organise large scale programmes including women. The marital disputes related to their families,reasons and causes will be addressed by premarital and post marital counselling sessions.

