Lucknow, Feb 4 : All India Muslim Personal Law Board has alleged that a large number of Muslim youths were lodged in prisons on terror charges and no charge sheet has been filed against them even after they were picked up over ten years ago.
"The board, in its executive meeting chaired by president AIMPLB Maulana Syed Mohammad Rabe Hasan Nadvi, discussed that a large number of innocent Muslim youths are lodged in the jails for the past several years," said Maulana Abdul Rahim Qureshi, board's assistant general secretary.
The board claimed that even after a decade no charge sheet has been filed against them.
"It is a matter of shame in a democratic country that though police failed to establish charges against them, the youths are still lodged in the jails for as long as 12 years," he said.
Qureshi said all such youths should be released.
The board has demanded compensation for the youths, who were acquitted by courts, he said.
"In cases where acquittal has been done by the court, compensation should be given to such youths and cases should be lodged against the concerned officials who falsely implicated them," he said.
Last month, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had said all the Muslim youths, who were falsely implicated on terror charges, will be released soon.
In its election manifesto, the Samajwadi Party had promised to release the Muslim youths, who were framed in "false" terror charges.
Qureshi said there was uneasiness among Muslims due to intervention in their religious matters.
"Government and all secular parties should make efforts to stop the interference which is taking place in religious matters. It is due to wrong interpretation of the laws that such incidents are taking place," he said.
During the meeting, stock of Babri mosque demolition case was also taken and it was felt that the CBI was not moving at a pace it should be in the Rae Bareli case, Qureshi said.
"Such a long time has passed and only 24 witnesses have been examined. We want speedy trial," he said.
Qureshi said that the issue of compulsory registration of marriages was also raised during the meeting.
"As far as Muslims are concerned there is no marriage which does not have a record. Every marriage has nikahnama," he said.
Instead of going to registrar of marriages, the government should empower those conducting 'nikahs' and they should be included in the act.
The issue of direct taxes code also came for discussion during the board meeting.
"We feel that concessions given to religious trust and institutions in income tax and wealth tax will be abolished in the DTC," Qureshi said.
He said that the board requests the government that concessions given in IT and wealth tax to religious trusts and institutions should continue and it should be incorporated in the DTC.
He said it was decided that a general body meeting of the board will be held in Ujjain between March 22 to 24.
