Will the BJP’s plan for a Uniform Civil Code save Muslim women?

Indian Muslims have always been free to apply their own personal laws – concerning marriage, divorce and inheritance. The Congress upheld legal pluralism, so as not to aggravate the minority. The Bharatiya Janata Party’s Narendra Modi has no such reservations. He is pursuing a Uniform Civil Code, and presents this as a victory for Muslim women.

He’s probably right. A UCC would improve gender equality – if women can claim their equal rights. To do so, they need economic autonomy and public safety.

Conservative opposition

Under Muslim Personal Law, a man was only obliged to support his divorced wife for three months. After this iddat period, the divorce…

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