‘Women should remain confined to homes’: Kanthapuram adds to controversy with fresh remarks

KOCHI: Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar has again made controversial remarks about women, saying the Quran teaches that women should remain confined to their homes and warning that their participation in public events could cause serious harm. He was speaking at a Prophet praise gathering held in Kochi.

Kanthapuram justified his position that women should not appear at public programmes, saying it was out of respect for them. He said Islam had prescribed the purdah to avoid situations where women would be among men who are not related to them. He added that he was stating the position taught by the religion on such matters.

Kanthapuram also said he would not be intimidated or withdraw if his remarks were criticised or questioned. Claiming that they had studied religion properly, he said they had the right to communicate such positions to the Muslim community.
He said some organisations had questioned what authority he had to make such statements, but maintained that he would not retreat from his positions out of fear of opposition.

Recently, a circular issued by the Kanthapuram faction had sparked controversy by directing that women should not be brought into public spaces during Islamic celebrations. The circular said women should not be brought onto stages or into public spaces among men who are not related to them.
The statement issued by Kanthapuram said the directive was intended to prevent celebrations from crossing limits. However, it drew widespread criticism, including on social media. Several Muslim women also came forward on social media with strong criticism of Kanthapuram.