Controversy over Grand Mufti remarks on women

Grand Mufti of India Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar sparked controversy following remarks at a conference in Kochi, where he suggested women should avoid the public sphere to prevent “great destruction.” Comparing women to gold jewelry that must be kept in a box to maintain value, he defended the practice of purdah. These comments followed a circular from his organization, Samastha Kerala Jam’iyyathul Ulama, directing religious institutions to restrict women’s participation in certain public religious processions and stages with unrelated men.

The remarks drew condemnation from political leaders and activists, including Kerala Labour Minister Bindu Krishna, who characterized the views as regressive and a violation of constitutional guarantees regarding gender equality. Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan further criticized the stance, describing it as a “19th century” mindset.

In response, the Malayalam daily Suprabhatham, the official mouthpiece of the EK Sunni faction of Samastha, issued an editorial defending the scholar. The publication compared the Chief Minister’s criticism to a “blind man touching an elephant,” arguing that Kanthapuram has the freedom to express religious doctrine within his own community and that critics had failed to properly interpret religious teachings.