CM VD Satheesan rejects Kanthapuram’s call for women to stay indoors

Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan has rejected Grand Mufti Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar’s remarks that women should remain inside their homes, saying neither his government nor the Congress would support the position.

“We do not agree at all with his statement that if women enter the public sphere it will cause great ruin,” Satheesan said. He described the position as an “anachronism”, arguing that women should participate in all aspects of mainstream life.

VD Satheesan also said the cleric’s interpretation was a misreading of Islam, citing figures including Prophet Muhammad’s first wife Khadijah, who was a businesswoman, Aisha’s role in the Battle of the Camel, and Queen Bilqis. He also referred to an account from Caliph Umar’s court in which a woman challenged a decision to reduce Mehr and Umar accepted her argument.

“Neither this government nor our party will stand with any of that,” Satheesan said.

Kanthapuram made the remarks at a Hubbul Rasool conference in Kochi on Sunday. He said bringing women into the public sphere would lead to “great destruction” and cited the Quran in arguing that women should remain confined to their homes. He compared women to a gold necklace that, he said, would lose its beauty if left exposed on the road.

His remarks followed a circular issued last week by Samastha Kerala Jam-iyyathul Ulama president E Sulaiman Musliyar and general secretary Kanthapuram, directing local committees, mosques and madrasas to keep Islamic celebrations within religious limits. The circular said bringing young women among unrelated men on public roads and stages was inappropriate.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticised the remarks and accused the Congress and CPI(M) of appeasement. He also questioned Rahul Gandhi’s silence on the issue.

The Indian Union Muslim League, a partner in Satheesan’s cabinet, declined to take a position. State general secretary PMA Salam said religious organisations had their views while the League had its own political position.

The controversy comes days after Rahul Gandhi criticised the Manusmriti and called for women to “smash the patriarchy” at a Congress event in Pune on August 22.