Samastha mouthpiece lashes out at Keralam CM over Kanthapuram comments

Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar | Photo Credit: th-online Administrator An editorial published in Suprabhatham, mouthpiece of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, on Sunday lashed out at Chief Minister V.D.Satheesan over his criticism of Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar’s recent controversial opinions against the participation of women in public platforms.Titled ‘Speak respectfully’, the editorial said that Mr. Satheesan’s comments are akin to a blind man describing an elephant. It further said that Mr. Satheesan who had in the past opposed entry of young women into Sabarimala is now speaking about women’s freedom. The editorial accused a few elements from within the Muslim community of feeding wrong information to the CM.“The CM’s response was based on a gross misunderstanding. Kanthapuram’s statement that women put on display can cause major destruction was made at his centre where the community of believers congregate, to remind them of the kind of immorality that indecent behaviour by women can cause. He has all the freedom to say such things. The criticism against this statement comes from a misunderstanding of the idea of womanhood in Islam,” said the editorial.The editorial accused Mr. Satheesan of extending a “good conduct certificate” even to Jamaath-e-Islami before the election. “His opponents have placed the burden of securing support for both his electoral prospects as well as his chief ministerial ambitions on the Muslim community. Some may therefore wonder whether he is waging a ‘lotus’ war in an attempt to shake off this branding,” it said.Mr. Kanthapuram, general secretary of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama and Grand Mufti of India, had asked mahals and madrasas under Samastha to ensure that religious programmes follow Islamic norms. The circular asked them to prevent women from sharing stage or public space with unrelated men during religious celebrations. Mr. Satheesan said that his comments are unsuitable for modern, progressive Keralam and belongs to the 19th century. Published - September 06, 2026 07:52 pm IST