- “Rajagopal, a 70-year-old farmer from the tiuchirappalli region of tamil Nadu, was astonished when he attempted to sell his 1.2-acre plot to pay for his daughter’s wedding. He received a 20-page paper from the sub-registrar’s office stating that the tamil Nadu Waqf Board actually owned his land.”
- “The Waqf Tribunal in Kozhikode [India], headed by judge Rajan Thattil, has postponed hearing on the contentious Munambam land dispute to December 6. The case, centered around the classification of 404 acres of land as waqf property, stems from an appeal filed by Farook College, Kozhikode. The college is challenging the Kerala State Waqf Board’s decision to list the land under its registry, asserting it was a gift deed to it from the late Mohammed Siddeeq Sait.”
- “Chief Syar’ie Judge [of Borneo, Malaysia] reminded newly registered Syariah lawyers of their ethical responsibilities and the importance of applying their knowledge to uphold justice in accordance with the Islamic law.
- In Indonesia, “[l]ess than a week after the women’s world cup football final drew record crowds and global TV audiences, clerics in a hardline Islamist Indonesian province said attempts to revive the game in the country were ‘forbidden’ unless men were excluded entirely.”
- “The South Jakarta Religious Court in Indonesia has rejected the marriage validation application of singers Rizky Febian and Mahalini. . . . According to reports, the application was denied because their marriage did not fulfill the essential requirements of an Islamic marriage. As a result, the couple has been advised to remarry to ensure their union is valid according to Islamic law and the principles of ijab [offer] and kabul [acceptance].”
- “Afghanistan Ulema Council (AUC) sa[id] blocking streets by protesters is unlawful and contrary to the Islamic law and principles.” For more content and context on the recent developments in Afghanistan, consult our Editor-in-Chief, Professor Intisar Rabb’s “Resource Roundup: Afghanistan, the Taliban, and Islamic Law.”
- “The controversial Waqf Amendment Bill [India], which aims to reform the management and regulation of Waqf properties across India, is expected to be presented during the Budget Session in February 2025, according to sources reported by India Today TV. The bill’s introduction has been postponed due to intense debates and disruptions within the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) responsible for reviewing it.”
- “A Texas money manager who catered to Muslim clients illegally invested $18.5 million of their money into cryptocurrencies without their knowledge, the US Securities and Exchange Commission said . . . Through radio shows, podcasts, interviews, and other media, he targeted members of the Muslim community in the US and said his fund complied with Islamic law.”
- “Marcus Fakana, an 18-year-old Briton from Tottenham, London, finds himself facing serious legal trouble during what was supposed to be a fun family holiday in Dubai. The young man is accused of having engaged in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old British girl, who has since turned 18, during their stay at the luxury emirate. . . . Dubai’s legal framework operates under strict interpretations of Islamic law. Under UAE law, individuals below the age of 18 are classified as minors, and sexual relationships involving minors can lead to severe penalties. Though consensual premarital relationships were decriminalized recently, this law does not extend to those involving minors, which has placed Marcus at great risk of prosecution.” For more content and context on harsh interpretations and applications of Islamic criminal law, consult our Editor-in-Chief, Professor Intisar Rabb’s “Resource Roundup: Islamic Criminal Law.” For more news blurbs relating to harsh applications of Islamic criminal law, consult our “Islamic Criminal Law in the News Roundup.”