Kanthapuram stands firm on controversial statement: ‘Islamic laws should not be altered or corrected for political parties or individuals’

MALAPPURAM: Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar is standing firm on his anti-women statement. He said that Islamic laws should not be altered or corrected for the sake of political parties or individuals. He also stated that religious scholars do not issue religious rulings according to anyone’s opinion or personal preferences.

He reiterated his earlier stand while inaugurating the Samastha Centenary Welcome Committee formation conference held at Quthubussaman School in Chemmad, Malappuram.

He said that everything stated by Samastha is arrived at only after thorough consideration, reflection and examination. Therefore, he said, Samastha scholars have never found themselves in a situation where they had to retract or change something they had previously stated.

A circular issued by the Kanthapuram faction of Samastha, stating that women should not be brought among unrelated men or into public spaces, had sparked a major controversy. The circular said that limits should not be crossed during religious celebrations. Kanthapuram was reportedly angered by the presence of women at Nabi Day processions in several places.

The circular issued to the mahalls stated that programmes should be conducted in accordance with Islamic norms. It also said that women should not be displayed on roads or on stages among unrelated men, and that practices that are not Islamic should not be incorporated into such programmes.

Muslim religious scholars as well as leaders of various political parties, including the CPM, and Chief Minister V D Satheesan had publicly come out against the statement. The Kanthapuram faction responded with strong criticism against those who opposed the statement.