“No issue abiding by UCC since it does not tamper with Islamic faith”: Uttarakhand Waqf Board

Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], February 8 (ANI): A day after the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) 2024 bill was passed in the state assembly, the Uttarakhand Waqf Board refuted reports that the bill was anti-Islamic and asserted that there was no issue with abiding by the UCC since it does not tamper with the Islamic faith.

Speaking to ANI over the Uniform Civil Code bill, Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams said, “I believe the nation will accept this bill hands-on. With the kind of rumours being spread among the Muslim community that this bill is anti-Islamic, I can say that the bill has no line that tampers with the Islamic faith.”

“With utmost honesty and being a strong Muslim myself, I can say that under the light of the Quran, there is no problem with abiding by the UCC. Those who are opposed are not true Muslims. They are political Muslims who somewhere relate to the Congress or the Samajwadi Party. I am again saying this with full responsibility, that this bill does not violate Islam, and Muslims can follow UCC,” said Shadab Shams.

The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) Bill was passed with a comfortable majority during a special session of the Uttarakhand assembly on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that the passage of the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) bill in the Legislative Assembly marked a “historic day in the history of Uttarakhand.

He emphasised that the legislation benefits every section of society, asserting that a government promise to the people has been fulfilled.

The Uniform Civil Code, which proposes similar or uniform laws for all communities, was tabled on Tuesday during the special session by the Chief Minister.

Once the proposed UCC Bill is in place, “live-in relationships” will have to get registered under the law within 1 month from the “date of entering into the relationship.”

To live in a live-in relationship, adults will have to obtain consent from their parents. The bill also imposes a complete ban on child marriage and introduces a uniform process for divorce.

The Code provides equal rights to women of all religions in their ancestral property.

The CM added that the Uniform Civil Code Bill can be amended in the future if there is a need to include specific clauses.

As per the UCC Bill, the age for marriage will be 18 for women and 21 for men in all communities. Marriage registration is mandatory in all religions, and marriages without registration will be invalid. No divorce petition will be allowed to be filed after one year of marriage.

Uttarakhand CM Dhami, during the debate on the Uniform Civil Code, said that the state legislature is going to create history with the passing of the Uniform Civil Code and that every citizen of the state is filled with pride.