Muslims insist on polygamy By Jude Etyang and M. Nalunkuuma New Vision Wednesday, 30th March, 2005 http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/426158
--- photo: SHARIA LAW: Muslims demonstrate against the Domestic Relations Bill as they marched to Parliament yesterday http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/NP/1112115786polygam.jpg --- THOUSANDS of Muslims marched through Kampala city yesterday and declared a jihad (holy war) against the Domestic Relations Bill (DRB) 2003, which is yet to be enacted into law. The demonstrators particularly opposed the clause restricting polygamy. Deafening chants of Allah Akbar! (God is great) echoed through the busy streets mid-morning as men, women clad in veils and children headed to Parliament where they presented a memorandum to deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga. �This is a war. We have to use all means to enjoy our freedom of worship,� Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly chief Abbass Kiyimba said. Kiyimba told Kadaga that Muslims, who were peace-loving, opposed the Bill because it was against the Quran and makes Muslims outlaws. Waving four-fingers, the men shouted: �Twagala kuwaasa banna� (We want to marry four wives). The women also flashed four-fingers and said, Mutuleke batuwasse (let them marry us). Their banners read: �The DRB is contradicting Islam,� �Muslims not party to the DRB,� �Don�t force us into terrorism.� �The Quran is the Constitution of Allah� and �Muslims should enjoy freedom of worship.� The Bill, up for debate in Parliament this week, bans bride price and dowry, promotes cohabitation and requires a divorcing couple to share equally property acquired in marriage. The demonstrators camped at Parliament gate as Imam Kasozi preached to them. He said, �Cohabitation is zina (adultery) in Islam. We cannot tolerate such provisions as in the DRB. We shall continue to fight for our freedom of worship.� In the statement to Kadaga, Mufti Sheikh Shaban Ramadhan Mubajje said Muslims were not interested in the improvement of the Bill but wanted to be excluded from it. He said attempts by Muslims to express their concerns had failed. �It is neither possible nor necessary to improve the DRB to the Muslims� satisfaction. Therefore, we pray that we be excluded from the application of this law,� Mubajje said. The statement was read by Haji Edris Kasenene. Mubajje said the DRB intended to destroy the sanctity of marriage as envisaged in Islam and to turn Muslims into outlaws. He said it could provoke religious disharmony. �The Muslims are an important minority and their rights should be respected,� said Mubajje. Kadaga said Parliament would handle the Bill with the �utmost sensitivity.� But Kiyimba said Muslims would take nothing less than exclusion from the Bill. He said if violence broke over the law, the lawmakers would take the blame. http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/426158 __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/ ------------------------ Yahoo! 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