The controversy over the misogynistic remarks by Kerala Muslim cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar widened on Thursday after Muslim scholars met Chief Minister VD Satheesan to express their displeasure over his comments on the issue.
While leaders of the Kanthapuram-led Muslim faction met Satheesan, another prominent Muslim leader extended his support to Kanthapuram, arguing that his remarks were in accordance with Islamic religious practices.
His comments, however, have now drawn criticism from sections of the Muslim religious leadership.
Satheesan’s remarks have drawn criticism from sections of the Muslim religious leadership.
He accused the Chief Minister and opposition leaders of misleading the public by interpreting Kanthapuram's remarks as opposition to women’s progress.
The controversy over the misogynistic remarks by Kerala Muslim cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar widened on Thursday after Muslim scholars met Chief Minister VD Satheesan to express their displeasure over his comments on the issue.
While leaders of the Kanthapuram-led Muslim faction met Satheesan, another prominent Muslim leader extended his support to Kanthapuram, arguing that his remarks were in accordance with Islamic religious practices.
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The developments came after Satheesan strongly criticised Kanthapuram, the Grand Mufti of India, for saying that women were mandated to remain confined to their homes and should not appear in public, warning that bringing women into public spaces would lead to "great destruction".
Satheesan dismissed the remarks as being contrary to the history of women in Islam as well as the values of modern society and Kerala. His comments, however, have now drawn criticism from sections of the Muslim religious leadership.
Referring to Islamic history, Satheesan cited the examples of Khadija, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, and Aisha, another wife of the Prophet, to argue that women had played prominent roles in public life.
"Khadija, the Prophet's first wife, was a major businesswoman. Another wife of the Prophet, Aisha, took part in the Battle of the Camel. She was the commander-in-chief," the Chief Minister said.
"We strongly oppose expressing such a 19th-century view in the 21st century. Our progressive position is that women are not meant to remain confined to their homes and that they should participate in all aspects of life and live as part of the mainstream," he added.
Following the remarks, a delegation from the Kanthapuram-led faction met the Chief Minister on Wednesday night and accused him of misinterpreting Islamic history, particularly in his references to Khadija and Aisha.
The leaders said the meeting had been scheduled earlier, but the Chief Minister's comments became a key issue during the discussion. Reports claim that, during the meeting, Satheesan stood by what he said earlier. However, the Chief Minister's office has not commented on what transpired in the talks.
Satheesan’s remarks have drawn criticism from sections of the Muslim religious leadership. Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, president of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, one of Kerala’s largest Muslim organisations, took an indirect swipe at the Chief Minister, saying religious scholars should not be belittled for speaking on matters of faith.
"Sharia is accepted in any time period. It is the verdict of the Holy Quran. You can accept it if you want or else don't. If it's not relevant to the time period we live in, then you don't have to accept it. But such statements must not come from those sitting in responsible positions," Thangal said.
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Another Samastha leader, Nasar Faizy Koodathayi, also defended Kanthapuram, arguing that the cleric's remarks had been misinterpreted. According to Faizy, Kanthapuram was opposing the portrayal of women as objects of display and advocating their safety and adherence to religious norms, rather than calling for women to be confined to their homes.
Faizy also pointed to Khadija’s role as a businesswoman and Aisha's participation in battles as evidence that Islamic history itself contains examples of women playing prominent roles in public life. He accused the Chief Minister and opposition leaders of misleading the public by interpreting Kanthapuram's remarks as opposition to women’s progress.
Other organisations associated with the Kanthapuram faction have also criticised the Chief Minister's remarks, both on social media and through public statements. The Sunni Students Federation (SSF), an offshoot of the Kanthapuram-led All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama, issued a single-line statement, saying "It's not the State's duty to interpret religion, the Chief Minister’s responsibility is to govern."
The controversy began after Kanthapuram, speaking at an Islamic conference in Kochi on Sunday, said bringing women onto public platforms would lead to "great destruction" and that Islam prescribed purdah to prevent this.
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Commenting on the row, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby said Kanthapuram’s remarks reflected a "reluctance to recognise gender equality" and alleged that they "echoed views expressed by the RSS".
Baby said such positions were contrary to the Indian Constitution, which guarantees gender equality.
BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, meanwhile, accused the Congress-led state government and its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League, of allowing attempts to push Kerala towards a "regressive" social system.
He said the BJP would fight "tooth and nail" against any attempt to curtail women’s constitutional rights.
With religious leaders now openly challenging Satheesan's interpretation of Islamic history, the dispute appeared to have widened beyond Kanthapuram's original remarks into a broader debate.
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