India’s Muslim Law Board Calls for Nationwide Movement to Protect Shariah
The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has announced a massive nationwide “Mass movement” in India to protect constitutional rights, democracy, the rule of law, religious freedom and human dignity. As part of the campaign, the organization plans to hold public rallies and protest programs in major cities across the country.
The organization said the campaign, titled the “Movement to Protect the Constitution and Shariah,” will primarily focus on safeguarding citizens’ rights and religious traditions. As part of the campaign, the AIMPLB will document various incidents of alleged discrimination against Muslims, violations of constitutional rights and human rights abuses and prepare and publish a comprehensive “white paper” or documentation of such cases.
The board said the document would be shared with the media, human rights organizations, intellectuals, elected representatives and other relevant institutions. According to the plan, public rallies will be organized in major cities across India. Prominent scholars, religious leaders, thinkers and social and political figures from different faiths will be invited to address the gatherings. A major protest program will also be held in New Delhi.
The AIMPLB has made it clear that the movement should not be viewed merely as a campaign by Muslims or any particular community. In a statement, the board said, “This is not a struggle of any particular community or group; rather, it is a collective national struggle to protect India’s Constitution, the supremacy of democracy, the rule of law, religious freedom, human dignity, national unity, peace and fraternity.” The organization has urged ordinary citizens and civil society organizations across the country to join the movement.
At a press conference, AIMPLB members said, “We firmly believe that justice, love, dialogue, mutual respect and constitutional means are the true guarantees of India’s peaceful future. With this belief, we invite every just, democratic and peace-loving citizen of the country, as well as social and religious organizations and responsible members of civil society, to join this movement.” The board alleged that in recent years, Muslims and other marginalized groups have faced increasing pressure and discriminatory treatment.
In this regard, it cited several specific issues, including incidents of mob lynching and mob violence against Muslims, alleged unlawful bulldozer demolition drives, targeting of mosques, madrasas and dargahs, illegal occupation of Waqf properties and graveyards, arbitrary arrests of Muslim youths in what it described as baseless cases, attempts to undermine Muslim personal law through the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), interference with religious freedom, and efforts to hurt the religious beliefs of minorities through measures such as making the singing of “Vande Mataram” compulsory.
The board said, “These activities have created a deep sense of insecurity among a large section of the country’s population.” The AIMPLB said its upcoming nationwide campaign would raise public awareness about these issues while continuing to seek solutions through constitutional and democratic means.
