Amid controversy, Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musaliyar cited women-only educational institutions run by his faction and rejected claims that Islamic teachings deny women dignity, rights or opportunities.
Islamic cleric and Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, has sought to clarify his controversial remarks on women’s participation in public life, asserting that he does not subscribe to the view that women should be given a secondary position in society.
Speaking at a public conference in the wake of the massive outcry over his remarks, Kanthapuram said it was unfair to claim that women were given a subordinate position under Islam, stressing that Islamic teachings do not advocate suppressing or “burying” women.
The cleric further pointed to educational institutions run by the faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama led by him, including institutions exclusively for women, as evidence of the opportunities being provided to them.
“It is not fair to say that we gave women second place in society,” he said, adding that there were schools in certain regions where only girls studied and women worked as teachers.
He also highlighted his role in supporting such institutions, saying he had been providing food, accommodation and medicines free of cost.
“In many parts of India, I have created separate institutions for male and female and have been providing all necessities for free,” he said.
Seeking to distance himself from any suggestion that women should be denied dignity or rights, Kanthapuram said, “Holy Islam is not a religion that buries women. None of us are people who will say women should be buried.”
The clarification comes after a massive controversy erupted over his earlier remarks that bringing women into public spaces “causes great destruction” and that Islam had therefore mandated purdah for women. He had further claimed that the Quran states that women should remain confined to their homes and should not make public appearances.
The remarks triggered widespread criticism from women’s organisations, ministers, intellectuals and political leaders from both the ruling front and the Opposition, as well as sections of civil society. Critics accused the 95-year-old Islamic scholar of advocating a regressive approach to women’s participation in public life.
In an apparent attempt to assuage the backlash, Kanthapuram has now stressed that Islam is not regressive towards women. He also pointed out that around 500 girls were studying and teaching at one of the institutions supported by him, adding that orphaned girls were also being provided care and educational opportunities.
However, days after making his initial remarks, Kanthapuram had defended his position, further intensifying the controversy.
The row escalated further on Thursday after Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan strongly rejected Kanthapuram’s views, saying neither the government nor the Congress supported the cleric’s position.
A delegation from the Kanthapuram-led faction met Satheesan on Wednesday night and sought to withdraw the statement concerning the cleric’s remarks. However, the Chief Minister refused to endorse the position.
At a press briefing, Satheesan dismissed Kanthapuram’s remarks as being contrary to both the history of women in Islam and the values of modern society and Kerala.
Referring to Islamic history, Satheesan cited the examples of Khadija, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, and Aisha, another wife of the Prophet, to argue that women had played prominent roles in public life.
“Khadija, the Prophet’s first wife, was a major businesswoman. Another wife of the Prophet, Aisha, took part in the Battle of the Camel. She was the commander-in-chief,” the Chief Minister said.
“We strongly oppose expressing such a 19th-century view in the 21st century. Our progressive position is that women are not meant to remain confined to their homes and that they should participate in all aspects of life and live as part of the mainstream,” he added.