Kerala CM Satheesan rejects Sunni leader's remarks on women as outdated

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has strongly rejected recent remarks by Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar regarding women's participation in public forums, calling the views incompatible with a modern and progressive Kerala.

Speaking to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday after a Cabinet meeting, Satheesan said neither the Congress party nor the state government can endorse a stance that he described as belonging to the 19th century.

The Chief Minister pointed to Islamic history and scriptures to counter the argument, noting that Khadija, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, was a businesswoman, while Ayesha, another wife, had led an army in battle. He added that women's voices were respected in the court of Khalifa Umar, suggesting the remarks stem from a misinterpretation of Islam.

The controversy began when Kanthapuram, who serves as general secretary of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama and Grand Mufti of India, issued a circular directing mahals and madrasas under Samastha to ensure religious programmes follow Islamic norms. The directive sought to prevent women from sharing stages or public spaces with unrelated men during religious celebrations and advised against incorporating customs from other cultures into Islamic festivals.

Speaking at an Islamic conference in Kochi on Sunday, Kanthapuram further stated that bringing women onto public platforms would lead to "great destruction" and that Islam prescribed purdah for women to prevent this.

The remarks have triggered widespread criticism, with leaders from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Congress, along with women's organisations, condemning the statements.