…and runs into predictable opposition.

“…The All-India Muslim Women Personal Law Board on Sunday came out with a new “Shariat nikahnama”, which makes registration of marriages compulsory, accords several rights to the wife and is applicable to both Shias and Sunnis.

…chairperson Shaista Amber told a news conference here that it was an improvement on other “nikahnamas” and “its authenticity cannot be challenged” as every provision was in accordance with the Shariat and it quoted the Koran.

She said it would mitigate the “agonies and sufferings of women” arising out of divorce and gives more rights to the wife.

However, the guidelines, believed to be the brainchild of Ms. Amber, have drawn criticism from the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board, the apex body of ulema, which termed these “useless” and “irrelevant”.

See also: New nikahnama: A boon for Muslim women .

Related Post: Another fine example of “pseudo-secularism”

Adjacent Post: Will the Darul Uloom now declare war on “Islamism”?