Keralam CM Satheesan rejects scholar's remarks asking women to remain confined to homes

Thiruvananthapuram, Chief Minister V D Satheesan dismissed Sunni Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar's assertion that women should stay confined to their homes, deeming it incompatible with Kerala's progressive values. At a press conference following a state Cabinet meeting, Satheesan declared, "We have absolutely no agreement with that statement.

It is not a position that suits progressive Kerala. We cannot agree with it in any manner." He emphasized women's right to participate in all societal spheres, asserting, "They should participate in all spheres of life and play a central role in society. That is our progressive position, without any doubt." The chief minister's comments came in response to Musliyar's remarks made at an Islamic conference in Kochi, where he claimed women's presence in public spaces would bring about "great destruction" and that Islamic law prescribed purdah for them.

Satheesan countered these claims by highlighting several influential women in Islamic history, including Khadija, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, who was a successful businesswoman, Aisha, who fought in the Battle of the Camel and led troops, and Queen Bilqis, who was a ruler. He also mentioned an incident where a woman challenged a decision about mahr in the Caliphate, which was ultimately acknowledged as correct.

These historical examples, Satheesan argued, demonstrate that women have played significant roles in various aspects of life, including business, military leadership, and ruling positions. Therefore, he strongly reaffirmed that the chief minister's stance on women's equality is unassailable.