Considered ‘Anti-Islam’, India’s New Law is Defended by Muslim Figures

#Considered #AntiIslam #Indias #Law #Defended #Muslim #Figures

val | CNN Indonesia

Wednesday, 13 Mar 2024 18:18 IWST

Indian Flag Illustration. (iStockphoto/Rawpixel)

Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —

Presiden All India Muslim Jamaat, Maulana Shahabuddin Razvi Bareilvi defended the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) decision.

The law was previously seen by a number of groups as an ‘anti-Islam’ move by the Narendra Modi government.

However, one Indian Muslim figure stated that this policy would not affect the citizenship status of Indian Muslims.

“The Government of India has implemented the CAA law. I welcome this law. This should have been done earlier but better late than never. There are many misunderstandings among Muslims regarding this law. This law is not has nothing to do with Muslims. Previously there was no law granting citizenship to non-Muslims originating from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who faced atrocities based on religion,” Maulana said as quoted by NDTV.

He assessed that there was a misunderstanding deliberately created by Indian politicians towards Muslims in India.

“Millions of Indian Muslims will not be affected at all by this law. This law will not revoke the citizenship of any Muslim. In the last few years, there have been protests, it is due to misunderstanding. Some political figures are creating misunderstandings in among Muslims. Every Muslim in India should welcome the CAA,” he added.

Maulana clearly supports this as a good step for Muslim immigrants who have experienced various discriminatory things in obtaining their citizenship rights.

The religious leader’s opinion was also reinforced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah who emphasized that the CAA was brought to provide citizenship and not to deprive anyone of their citizenship rights.

“Minorities in our country, and especially our Muslim community, are being provoked. The CAA cannot revoke anyone’s citizenship as there is no provision in the Act. The CAA is an act to grant citizenship to refugees persecuted in Bangladesh and Pakistan,” Shah said.

However, some Muslims and Indian opposition parties reject the law. They believe that the CAA could violate the secular principles enshrined in the Indian constitution.

They also emphasized that trust cannot be used as a condition for obtaining citizens’ rights.

Moreover, the implementation of this law is one of the political promises for the hardline Hindu Bharatiya Janatqa party (BJP), which is the party led by Modi.

The Indian parliament announced the policy weeks ahead of the general election in India, in which PM Modi will seek re-election.

(bac)

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