All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), too, has termed forced conversion for marriage as a criminal act that should be dealt in accordance with the law. Source: Express Photo All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), too, has termed forced conversion for marriage as a criminal act that should be dealt in accordance with the law. Source: Express Photo

While country’s largest seminary Darul Uloom in Deoband termed marriage with Hindu girls after forced conversion to Islam as illegal, Maulana Mehmood Madani, the general secretary of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, has urged Muslim youths to avoid such marriages that give a handle to BJP to target the entire community.

Madani also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and restrain BJP leaders from raising the bogey of ‘love jihad’.

All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), too, has termed forced conversion for marriage as a criminal act that should be dealt in accordance with the law.

“Islam does not allow such marriages. There is no acceptance even if the girl accepts Islam only for the sake of marriage. Such sporadic incidents cannot be justified,” Ashraf Usmani, Press Secretary, Darul Uloom, said.

He said the entire Muslim community is under fire due to some individual incidents, which, he said was reflective of rather a social evil.

“We look at the issue as a social evil and it is our responsibility to eradicate it. We will talk to youths for avoiding such incidents, which is being blown out of proportion by the BJP,” Madani said.

Madani, whose Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind has a clout in western UP — which the BJP believes is the epicentre of ‘love jihad’ — hopes that Muslims will not play into the hands of anti-national elements.

Madani also demanded PM Modi’s intervention in the matter. “Modi had stated that Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas. Now if one community is being alienated, it cannot be done. I am ready to talk to resolve the issue.”

On the other hand, AIMPLB, the apex body of Indian Muslims for safeguarding Islamic shariah, ruled out intervention in the ‘love jihad’ issue.

“Such incidents of forced conversion and marriage by duping is a crime. It should be dealt as per the criminal law.. The board has no plan to intervene in the issue,” Zafaryab Jilani, executive committee member, AIMPLB, stated.

AIMPLB has a social reform wing, Islah-e-Maashra, which takes up issues like dowry and female foeticide.

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