Slamming the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), the Shiv Sena said it is only opposing the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) as India is a secular nation and had this been a Muslim country, they would have been forced to abide by the rules. The AIMPLB had said it would boycott the Law Commission’s decision to invite views over the UCC. Meanwhile, Dr Zeenat Shaukat Ali, moderate activist, said triple talaq is not mentioned in the Quran and Muslims should understand the Law Commission’s recommendations.

“Laws in our country are based on religion. In the past, there have been amendments to laws for the Hindu and Catholic community as and when needed. Also in the Muslim community, laws have been amended in countries such as Turkey, Iraq and Malaysia that follow Islam,” Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe told reporters here.

“The Shiv Sena has always called for UCC to be put in place. There needs to be a change in the lives of women. They are being able to oppose the UCC only because they reside in a secular country,” Ms Gorhe said.

Meanwhile, Dr Zeenat Shaikat Ali, president of Wisdom Foundation, said, “I believe that the Law Commissions’ view has to be studied A few may agree with its view and a few may not, this is a secondary issue.” She further said, “It is very clear that triple talaq is nowhere mentioned in the Quran and it is anti-Quran. This issue shouldn’t be politicised.”

“I am talking with full responsibility of being a human being and a Muslim. I don’t agree with the aggressive kind of statements coming out against Muslims. One should refrain from making aggressive statements,” she said.