Muslims Hopeful of Favorable Verdict in Babri Case: Jilani

Javed Akhtar, Arab News

Zafaryab Jilani JEDDAH, 21 June 2007 — Muslims are hopeful of a favorable verdict in the Babri Mosque case, according to Zafaryab Jilani, convener of the Babri Masjid Action Committee and member of the Muslim Personal Law Board. “The court decision is likely to come within a year and based on pleadings and evidence, we are very hopeful,” said Jilani, who is here to perform Umrah and pray at the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. In an interview with Arab News here yesterday, Jilani, himself a senior advocate at the high court and counsel of some of the plaintiffs in the case, said the report of the Archaeological Survey of India after excavations at the site, was unlikely to adversely affect the case of Muslims. Arguments in the case at the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court began on April 25. The court closed for the summer vacation on May 25 and the hearing will resume on July 23. “The arguments are likely to last six more months after which the three-judge bench will take another four or five months to deliver its verdict,” Jilani said. He added that well-known lawyers like Siddharth Shankar Ray, a former chief minister of West Bengal state and Rajiv Dhawan are likely to appear on behalf of Muslims. About the controversy on the introduction of the single talaq (divorce) clause in marriage contracts, Jilani said the Muslim Personal Law Board has only made a recommendation in this regard. “Ultimately it is left to the two parties. If they agree, then the clause is applicable. There is no compulsion,” Jilani said. He added that people initially reacted angrily to this but once they realized that it was only a recommendation, they calmed down. Another cause of concern is a court decision refusing to accept a verbal divorce. “A recent court verdict has refused to recognize a verbal talaq and insisted on its being in writing. Also, the court has refused to accept the date on a written divorce paper as valid,” Jilani said. “For both these, we are waiting for the next opportunity when a case comes up in court so that we can put forth our opinion and argument,” he added. On Uttar Pradesh political front, Jilani said the Bahujan Samaj Party won an absolute majority in the state because Muslims were disillusioned with Mulayam Singh Yadav. “Mulayam’s government totally disappointed the Muslims. Unlike the Samajwadi Party’s earlier term when a lot was done for the Muslim community, this time many of their legitimate demands were ignored,” he said. Enumerating the various demands put forth by Muslims but ignored, Jilani said, “Mayawati had earlier introduced the right of widows in agricultural land. We wanted Mulayam to add the ownership of daughters. Also, the request for shifting of the case against L.K. Advani and others was ignored.” He added that Urdu teachers were ignored and whereas employment was given to Yadavs and others, Muslims were totally ignored. Jilani said Mayawati and her party worked for over a year and a half to come close to Muslims, Brahmins and other high castes. “So far Mayawati has not said anything negative about Muslims. Everything has been positive. We hope it remains like this. But we will have to wait and see,” Jilani said.