Kanthapuram Samastha circular on women at public events in Keralam draws criticism
It asks mahal and madrasa officials not to let women be present among unrelated men at religious events, and to ensure that programmes follow Islamic norms
The Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, led by Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, recently released a circular directing mahals and madrasas not to allow women to be present among unrelated men at religious events. The circular, which has faced criticism, particularly on social media, emphasized that programs should adhere to Islamic norms.
Samastha president E. Sulaiman Musliar and general secretary Mr. Aboobacker appealed to mahal and madrasa officials to ensure programs align with Islamic practices. The directive specifically prohibited women from being present on stages or in public spaces during religious celebrations and cautioned against incorporating non-Islamic customs into Islamic festivals and ceremonies.
This has sparked controversy, with P.K. Sreemathy, a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] central committee, condemning the language as objectionable and demanding its withdrawal, citing Islamic teachings that advocate for the respectful treatment of women. Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama officials maintained that the circular was not novel and aimed to remind faithful followers to remain true to their religious values.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
