A prominent Muslim cleric in Keralam has drawn criticism after exhorting women to remain confined to their homes and claiming that their entry into the public sphere would “lead to destruction”.
“While the Constitution allows everyone to express their opinions freely, such a stand (of Musaliyar) is not fit to propagate in Kerala, India or the rest of the world. Women in our society have equal rights under the Constitution. We are a country that upholds gender equality. “He (Kanthapuram) can say what he wants.
Women faced a dark age, but with the help of social reformers and others, we have fought our way in and become part of the mainstream,” Krishna said. Congress leader and home minister Ramesh Chennithala said he did not support restricting women in public spaces. But I do not conform to the idea of restricting women in the public sphere,” he said.
Keralam Women and Child Welfare Minister Bindhu Krishna condemned Musaliyar’s comments on Monday.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader and Keralam Local Self-Government Minister KM Shaji, however, declined to comment on the remarks.
