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Kerala minister criticises cleric's remarks on women's public role
Kerala Labour Minister Bindu Krishna criticised Sunni cleric Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks advocating restrictions on women's public participation, saying such statements push women 'centuries back'. The cleric defended the restrictions, citing religious teachings.
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Kerala Labour Minister Bindu Krishna on Monday criticised prominent Sunni cleric and Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks advocating restrictions on women's participation in public life, saying such statements push women "centuries back" and cannot be accepted.
Speaking to ANI, Krishna said: "Constitution of India assures equal rights to women and men, irrespective of sex. The people have the right to live a free and liberal life. And also, these types of statements push women centuries back. So, we can't accept such statements. Our women are free to move. They are best rulers. Our girls are always coming through this society, and we can't accept such statements."
The minister was reacting to remarks made by Musliyar at the Hubbul Rasul Conference in Kochi, where he defended directives issued by the Kanthapuram faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama to local Mahalls regarding women's participation in religious celebrations.
The controversy follows a circular issued by the organisation directing Madrasas not to allow women to be present among unrelated men at religious programmes. The directives also advised against featuring young women on public stages or allowing them to participate in road processions alongside unrelated men.
Defending the restrictions, Aboobacker said: "Women should remain confined within their homes. They should not enter the public sphere. The Holy Quran says so." He defended the purdah system, saying it was intended to protect women's dignity. He argued that allowing women unrestricted access to public spaces could cause "great destruction".
Aboobacker said the restrictions were intended to honour and protect women rather than diminish their status. He also argued that Islam had granted women property and inheritance rights centuries ago to improve their status without requiring them to leave their domestic roles. The cleric said he was not concerned by opposition from political leaders or others and maintained that no one could silence him or force him to alter Islamic doctrines.
Separately, Kerala Women and Child Development Minister Bindu Krishna and senior CPI(M) leader P K Sreemathy criticised Musliyar over his remarks that women should remain confined to their homes. Krishna said such an approach was not something Keralam, the country or the world could emulate.
"Our country is a country that moves forward legally in accordance with the values of the Indian Constitution. In this country, people belonging to all religions can practise their faith. Everyone also has freedom of expression. But in this country, the Constitution views all human beings as equal, irrespective of gender. It is a country that upholds gender justice," she told reporters.
Krishna said women in the country had gone through a dark period and had reached the mainstream through sustained struggles by progressive sections of society. The minister pointed out that President Droupadi Murmu, the first citizen of the country, is a woman. She also recalled that India was led for a long period by former prime minister Indira Gandhi, whom she referred to as "Indira Priyadarshini".
Sreemathy, a prominent leader of the All India Democratic Women's Association, questioned whether women could be denied their rights as citizens of India. She said Musliyar's remarks were "insulting to women" and that those working for women's rights could not remain silent when their constitutional rights were questioned.
Sreemathy also noted that girls from different communities had participated in dance and other programmes during Onam celebrations in schools across Keralam, including Malappuram. She said young people today see such occasions as an opportunity to express their happiness and that they could not easily be prevented from doing so.
The circular had drawn criticism from several women political leaders. Kanthapuram said religious scholars who had studied Islam had an obligation to speak on the issue despite objections. He said such views had been taught by knowledgeable religious scholars, particularly the leaders of Samastha, for the past 100 years.
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Framing: Highlights the minister's criticism of the cleric's remarks, framing it as a 'rant' against women's rights — Critical and confrontational
Facts Included:
Keralam Labour Minister Bindu Krishna criticised prominent Sunni cleric and Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks advocating restrictions on women's participation in public life
Krishna said such statements push women 'centuries back' and cannot be accepted
The minister was reacting to remarks made by Musliyar at the Hubbul Rasul Conference in Kochi
The cleric defended recent directives issued by the Kanthapuram faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama to local Mahalls regarding women's participation in religious celebrations
Krishna told ANI: 'Constitution of India assures equal rights to women and men, irrespective of sex. The people have the right to live a free and liberal life. And also, these types of statements push women centuries back. So, we can't accept such statements. Our women are free to move. They are best rulers. Our girls are always coming through this society, and we can't accept such statements.'
A circular issued by the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama led by Aboobacker had directed Madrasas not to let women be present among unrelated men at religious events
It also issued directives, which advised against displaying young women on public stages or having them participate in road processions alongside unrelated men
Aboobacker said: 'Women should remain confined within their homes. They should not enter the public sphere. The Holy Quran says so.'
Aboobacker defended the purdah system as a practice intended to protect women's dignity
He argued that bringing women into public spaces without restrictions could cause 'great destruction' and said the restrictions were intended to honour and protect women rather than diminish them
Aboobacker argued that Islam had granted women property and inheritance rights centuries ago to elevate their status without requiring them to abandon domestic life
He said he remained unbothered by outside opposition or political criticism, asserting that no one could silence him or compel him to alter Islamic doctrines
Framing: The headline emphasizes the criticism of Kanthapuram by Minister Bindu Krishna and CPI(M) leader Sreemathy over his remarks on women.
Facts Included:
Keralam Women and Child Development Minister Bindu Krishna and senior CPI(M) leader P K Sreemathy on Monday criticised Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks that women should remain confined to their homes.
Kanthapuram, speaking at an Islamic conference in Kochi on Sunday, had said bringing women onto public platforms would lead to "great destruction" and that Islam prescribed purdah for women to prevent this.
Krishna said such an approach was not something Keralam, the country or the world could emulate.
Krishna said women in the country had gone through a dark period and had reached the mainstream through sustained struggles by progressive sections of society.
The minister pointed out that President Droupadi Murmu, the first citizen of the country, is a woman.
She also recalled that India was led for a long period by former prime minister Indira Gandhi, whom she referred to as "Indira Priyadarshini".
Sreemathy questioned whether women could be denied their rights as citizens of India.
Sreemathy said the Islamic scholar's remarks were "insulting to women".
Sreemathy said those working for women's rights could not remain silent when their constitutional rights were questioned.
Kanthapuram's remarks came amid a controversy over a recent circular issued by the Kanthapuram faction of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama.
The circular, issued by Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama president E Sulaiman Musliyar and general secretary Kanthapuram, had said women should not share stages with men or appear in public spaces alongside them.
Kanthapuram, in his speech, said such views had been taught by knowledgeable religious scholars, particularly the leaders of Samastha, for the past 100 years.
Framing: The headline emphasizes the cleric's controversial statement about women being confined to their homes and the resulting ire from a Kerala minister.
Facts Included:
Kerala labour minister Bindu Krishna on Monday criticised prominent Sunni cleric and Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks advocating restrictions on women's participation in public life
Krishna said the Constitution guarantees equal rights to men and women and rejected calls to restrict women's movement outside their homes
Krishna told ANI: 'Constitution of India assures equal rights to women and men, irrespective of sex. The people have the right to live a free and liberal life. And also, these types of statements push women centuries back. So, we can't accept such statements. Our women are free to move. They are best rulers. Our girls are always coming through this society, and we can't accept such statements.'
Aboobacker Musliyar made remarks at the Hubbul Rasul Conference in Kochi
The controversy follows a circular issued by the Kanthapuram faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama directing Madrasas not to allow women to be present among unrelated men at religious programmes
The directives also advised against featuring young women on public stages or allowing them to participate in road processions alongside unrelated men
Aboobacker said: 'Women should remain confined within their homes. They should not enter the public sphere. The Holy Quran says so.'
He defended the purdah system, saying it was intended to protect women's dignity
He argued that allowing women unrestricted access to public spaces could cause 'great destruction'
Aboobacker said the restrictions were intended to honour and protect women rather than diminish their status
He argued that Islam had granted women property and inheritance rights centuries ago to improve their status without requiring them to leave their domestic roles
The cleric said he was not concerned by opposition from political leaders or others and maintained that no one could silence him or force him to alter Islamic doctrines
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Claim
Confidence
Status
ClaimKerala labour minister Bindu Krishna criticised prominent Sunni cleric and Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks advocating restrictions on women's participation in public life.
ClaimKrishna told ANI: 'Constitution of India assures equal rights to women and men, irrespective of sex. The people have the right to live a free and liberal life. And also, these types of statements push women centuries back. So, we can't accept such statements. Our women are free to move. They are best rulers. Our girls are always coming through this society, and we can't accept such statements.'
ClaimThe controversy follows a circular issued by the Kanthapuram faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama directing Madrasas not to allow women to be present among unrelated men at religious programmes.
ClaimThe directives also advised against featuring young women on public stages or allowing them to participate in road processions alongside unrelated men.
ClaimDefending the restrictions, Aboobacker said: 'Women should remain confined within their homes. They should not enter the public sphere. The Holy Quran says so.'
ClaimAboobacker argued that Islam had granted women property and inheritance rights centuries ago to improve their status without requiring them to leave their domestic roles.
ClaimAboobacker said he was not concerned by opposition from political leaders or others and maintained that no one could silence him or force him to alter Islamic doctrines.
ClaimKerala Women and Child Development Minister Bindu Krishna and senior CPI(M) leader P K Sreemathy criticised Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar over his remarks that women should remain confined to their homes.
ClaimKanthapuram, speaking at an Islamic conference in Kochi on Sunday, had said bringing women onto public platforms would lead to 'great destruction' and that Islam prescribed purdah for women to prevent this.
ClaimKrishna said women in the country had gone through a dark period and had reached the mainstream through sustained struggles by progressive sections of society.
ClaimThe circular, issued by Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama president E Sulaiman Musliyar and general secretary Kanthapuram, had said women should not share stages with men or appear in public spaces alongside them.
ClaimKanthapuram, in his speech, said such views had been taught by knowledgeable religious scholars, particularly the leaders of Samastha, for the past 100 years.
ClaimThe minister was responding to remarks made by Aboobacker Musliyar at the Hubbul Rasul Conference in Kochi, where he defended directives issued by the Kanthapuram faction of Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama to local Mahalls regarding women's participation in religious events.
ClaimSreemathy said girls from different communities had participated in dance and other programmes during Onam celebrations in schools across Keralam, including Malappuram.
ClaimSreemathy said young people today see such occasions as an opportunity to express their happiness and that they could not easily be prevented from doing so.