News Analysis: Kanthapuram’s directive on curbs on women puts CPI(M) ties under strain

Veteran Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar's directive on limiting Muslim women's participation in public religious celebrations has sparked controversy in Keralam, putting his faction's ties with the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] under strain. The directive, issued by the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary and Grand Mufti of India, asked mosques, madrasas, and mahals to ensure religious programs align with Islamic norms, preventing women from sharing stages or public spaces with unrelated men during celebrations. It also discouraged incorporating customs from other cultures into Islamic festivals.

The directive came amid changes in Milad-e-Sharif celebrations, which have expanded from mosques, madrasas, and mahals to larger public events organized by youth clubs. Kanthapuram reiterated his position, arguing that women should remain at home and that their entry into the public sphere could lead to chaos. He cited purdah as a means of preventing such problems.

CPI(M) leaders and women's organizations have condemned the directive, calling for its withdrawal. Former Minister P.K. Sreemathy argued that keeping women confined to their homes is a feudal practice, while K.K. Shailaja emphasized that the directive is a feudal practice. The All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA) and Students Federation of India (SFI) leader P.S. Sanjeev also criticized the directive.

The controversy has brought to light a wider debate over religious autonomy, gender rights, and the meaning of progressive politics in Kerala. The Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) faction has defended Kanthapuram's directive, arguing that it concerns internal religious practices and is not a societal restriction. They accused former CPI(M) leaders P.K. Sreemathy and K.K. Shailaja of showing selective concern for Muslim women.