1. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi condemns the Assam Cabinet’s decision to repeal the Muslim Marriages Act.
2. Owaisi highlights the 90-year-old law’s role in facilitating Muslim marriages through ‘qazis’ or registrars.
3. The law provided couples with a ‘nikahnama’ certificate, a crucial aspect of Muslim marriage traditions.
Guwahati, Feb 27: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi criticized the Assam Cabinet’s decision to repeal the Muslim Marriages Act, arguing that it aims to distance Muslims from their religious practices.
Owaisi stated that the law, which had been in place for 90 years, facilitated Muslim marriages through ‘qazis’ or registrars, providing couples with a ‘nikahnama‘ certificate.
However, the government has abolished this system, raising concerns about the absence of provisions for ‘nikah’ in the Special Marriage Act.
He highlighted that the Special Marriage Act is a neutral, secular law that does not cater to religious practices, potentially disadvantaging Muslim couples who wish to marry according to their faith.
Also Read: Anant Ambani’s Pre-Wedding Extravaganza: A Culinary Feast of 2,500 Dishes, Vegan Delights, and Midnight Snacks
Moreover, he pointed out that the removal of ‘Mehr,’ a payment made to the bride in Muslim marriages, raises questions about gender equality and women’s rights.
Owaisi cautioned that registering marriages under the Special Marriage Act could lead to the loss of inheritance rights under Muslim personal law.
He interpreted this move as an attempt to distance Muslims from their religious identity and traditions.
The Assam cabinet’s decision to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935, was purportedly made to combat child marriage, according to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement on Saturday.
