Leaders pay respects to Kanathil Jameela; funeral to be held on Tuesday

KOZHIKODE: The funeral of Koyilandy MLA Kanathil Jameela, who passed away on Saturday, will be held on Tuesday. She will be laid to rest with official honours at the Kuniyil Kadavu Juma Masjid in Atholi. The body will be kept for public viewing at the Kozhikode district committee office on Tuesday morning and later at the Koyilandy Town Hall. Jameela, who had been undergoing treatment for cancer at a private hospital in Kozhikode, passed away late last night. CPM state secretary MV Govindan, Minister Mohammed Riyas, MP MK Raghavan, MLA KK Rema and others visited the hospital to pay their last respects.

Jameela was the first Muslim woman MLA from Malabar. She had also served as the president of the Kozhikode District Panchayat. She was the state vice-president of the Democratic Women's Association. Jameela had been resting at home due to cancer and was admitted to a private hospital on Saturday morning. She had been receiving treatment for around nine months in private hospitals in Chennai and Kozhikode. She was diagnosed with cancer during the Assembly session in March, after which she sought treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai. She later returned and continued to participate in public programmes.

Jameela entered public life while working as an LIC agent. She became president of Thalakkulathur Panchayat in 1995, chairperson of its standing committee in 2000, and president of Chelannur Block Panchayat in 2005. She served as Kozhikode District Panchayat president in 2010 and again in 2020. After being elected to the Assembly, she resigned from the district panchayat post. Even during her treatment, she remained active in development activities in her constituency. She was also the government representative on the State Orphanage Committee.

Jameela was the daughter of the late TK Ali and Mariyam of Naduvilakandi House, Kuttiady. She is survived by her husband K Abdurahman; children: Airij Rahman (USA) and Anooja Sahad (Minority Corporation Office, Kozhikode).