Kerala chief minister VD Satheesan on Wednesday criticised remarks by prominent Muslim cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musaliyar that women entering the public sphere would “lead to destruction”, saying such views were “not fit for a progressive society”.
The chief minister, at a press briefing in Thiruvananthapuram, stressed that he and his party, the Congress, stand opposed to the remarks made by Musaliyar. “Such a stand do not fit a progressive society. Such remarks cannot be made in the current 21st century. We cannot support such views. Women are not supposed to remain confined within homes. The CM underlined that Islamic history also states the same. “Khadija, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, was a businesswoman. Aisha, another wife of the Prophet, has taken part in the Battle of the Camel. She was a military chief. Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has displayed reluctance in condemning the remarks made by the cleric. KM Shaji and N Shamsudheen, both IUML ministers in the state government, declined to comment on the matter.
Therefore, we cannot support such views (of the cleric),” he said.
They must be at the forefront of mainstream society and participate actively in life,” he said. Islam is being misrepresented here, he said.
IUML state president Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal appeared to defend the cleric, stating that he may have been referring to the safety of women.
