On the morning of October 29, a woman in Kerala suffered severe facial burns after her husband poured boiling fish curry on her for refusing to undergo occult and black magic treatment by an Islamic Usthad. The incident occurred in Chadayamangalam, Kollam district, and the victim has been identified as 35-year-old Rejoola Gafoor, a resident of Veykkal. According to Rejoola’s family, her husband, Sajeer, carried out the attack after she refused to participate in the occult practices prescribed by the Usthad from Anjal Erath.
In the days leading up to the incident, Sajeer had been subjecting Rejoola to occult treatments, claiming that her body was possessed by Satan, under the guidance of the Usthad. On the morning of October 29, he brought ashes and thakitu (metal pieces used in black magic) from the Usthad and instructed Rejoola to sit with her hair disheveled. Rejoola refused, loudly stating that she was not willing to undergo such occult practices. Enraged, Sajeer poured boiling fish curry from the stove onto her face. Following this horrific attack, Rejoola was immediately admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Observers have noted the presence of unscientific practices and occult beliefs, as well as a lack of scientific temper, in certain sections of the Muslim community. However, no pseudo-secular leader or political party has publicly addressed this issue. In July 2023, A.N. Shamseer, the Kerala Assembly Speaker and a CPM leader, spoke at a school children’s program, stating that Ganpati is a myth and emphasising the importance of cultivating a scientific temper. Around the same time, media reports resurfaced a 2016 video of Shamseer, in which he allegedly appeared to justify some Islamic theories that do not align with scientific thinking. Interestingly, Muslim organisations have largely remained silent on issues related to occultism and black magic.
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