Indian Muslims launch campaign to protect Islamic family laws

NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Muslim organizations in India’s western Maharashtra state have launched a statewide signature campaign to protect Islamic family laws from proposed government legislation that could replace religiously based rules governing marriage, divorce and inheritance with a common legal framework for all communities.

The campaign, organized by Sunni Jamiat Ulama and Raza Academy, began at mosques across Maharashtra on Friday, with religious scholars and community leaders urging Muslims to oppose the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC) through democratic and constitutional means.

The initiative has drawn participation from Mumbai and several other cities, including Malegaon, Nashik, Jalna and Bhiwandi, where mosque committees and volunteers have been collecting signatures and raising awareness about the proposed legislation.

Organizers said the campaign would continue until November 15, with the possibility of an extension depending on the government’s consultation process.

During Friday sermons, Muslim scholars explained the potential implications of the proposed legislation and warned that replacing religious personal laws with a uniform legal framework could interfere with Islamic religious practices and family traditions.

Muslim organizations argue that such legislation could undermine constitutional protections for religious freedom and restrict the community’s ability to follow Islamic principles in personal and family matters.

Raza Academy chief Muhammad Saeed Noori questioned reports that the Maharashtra government was considering exemptions for tribal communities while potentially applying the proposed legislation to other religious groups.

“We are not against any community, but we do ask the government what its purpose is in exempting tribal communities from the Uniform Civil Code while imposing it on other citizens,” Noori said.

He argued that if exemptions were necessary to protect the customs and traditions of certain communities, similar protections should be extended to the religious practices and personal laws of others.

Separately, representatives of several Muslim organizations gathered at Islam Gymkhana in Mumbai to discuss the proposed legislation and coordinate their response.

The meeting, organized by the Maharashtra Muslims Federation, brought together representatives of Jamaat-e-Islami, Jamiat Ulama and the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, among others.

Malik Motasim of Jamaat-e-Islami emphasized that religious injunctions contained in the Quran and Hadith, the recorded teachings and practices of Prophet Muhammad, form an essential part of Islamic faith and cannot be altered.

Maulana Mahmood Khan Daryabadi, a founding member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board, cited constitutional provisions protecting religious freedom and warned that the proposed code could restrict those rights.

Participants also proposed forming a committee of 15 to 20 members to coordinate their response and communicate community concerns to government authorities.

The Maharashtra government has reportedly circulated a questionnaire containing 37 questions seeking public responses to the proposed UCC.

Muslim organizations have encouraged community members to participate in the consultation process, with several groups distributing digital forms and informational materials.

Organizers said the collected signatures would be submitted to the relevant authorities as part of their efforts to protect religious freedom and preserve Islamic personal laws.