A recent religious conference held in Kochi witnessed controversial remarks from Grand Mufti Sheikh Aboobacker Ahmed regarding the role of women, sparking a significant political debate across Kerala. During the event, he asserted that women should keep themselves confined to their homes and avoid participating in public life.
Elaborating on his stance, Ahmed stated that bringing women into the public sphere could lead to major devastation, which is why the hijab system has been prescribed for them in Islam. He added that religious scholars have propagated this viewpoint for the past one hundred years, helping to maintain women dignity, and claimed that the Quran prescribes a similar approach.
Following the uproar over these remarks, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key ally of the ruling Congress party in Kerala, weighed in on the controversy. State president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal defended the remarks made by senior Sunni Muslim scholar Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, describing them as a scholarly view.
When questioned by reporters about whether women today should live as suggested by the scholar, Thangal remarked that he believed the religious leader was expressing genuine concern for the safety of women. He noted that under current circumstances, women are being targeted, and the remarks might stem from that concern, suggesting a need for some restraint.
When specifically asked about the opinion that women should strictly observe the veil and stay indoors instead of visiting public places, Thangal stated that people can hold diverse views on social issues. He emphasized that everyone in society has their own perspective and the focus should be on working together on matters concerning the broader community.
Meanwhile, senior CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan strongly criticized the notion that women should be kept away from public life. In a Facebook post, he acknowledged that every religious individual has the right to speak about their faith, but maintained that in a democratic society, such viewpoints are bound to face debate and criticism when they attempt to dictate how women should live.
Jayarajan stated that while religious protection is valued, safeguarding women freedom, equality, and participation in public life remains a fundamental duty of any democratic society. He underscored that individuals cannot be barred from defending their religious beliefs, but society must simultaneously uphold the democratic rights and public agency of women.
