A senior leader of the Samastha Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), the youth wing associated with the influential Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama (EK faction), has triggered fresh controversy with strong remarks on the conduct of Muslim women in contemporary society.
Abdul Hameed Faisi Ambalakakkadavu (also referred to as Abdul Hameed Faizy Ambalakkadavu) denounced practices such as Muslim women shaking hands with or hugging “strangers” (non-mahram men), failing to strictly observe Hijab rules, working as receptionists, performing as singers, and actively participating on public stages or social media. He described these as contrary to Islamic teachings.
In his address, after issuing a ‘Fatwa’-like statement, Faisi warned that continued deviation from traditional norms could invite divine retribution as prophesied by the Prophet — including the earth swallowing people, transformation into pigs and monkeys, and stones pelting from the skies. He contrasted the present with practices from about 50 years ago, when Muslim women reportedly carried umbrellas to shield their faces from stranger men while venturing out.
Specific Criticisms — Faisi highlighted several trends within the community
- Orchestra performances — and young women greeting guests with folded hands at wedding venues
- Organizing Ishal nights for charity (e.g., kidney transplants)
- Muslim girls taking up receptionist jobs and being groomed as singers in schools
- Active participation of women and girls on YouTube and social media platforms
- Physical interactions such as handshakes and hugs during religious and social functions.
He attributed the perceived erosion of traditional values partly to the influence of reformist factions like Mujahid and Jamaat-e-Islami.
Observers and critics have described such statements as attempts to push society backward toward 7th-century norms, limiting women’s roles in education, arts, and public life. Many view them as part of a broader conservative push within certain sections of Kerala’s Muslim community.
Not the First Controversy
This is not the first time leaders associated with Samastha have faced criticism over views on women’s public participation. In 2022, senior Samastha-linked scholar M.T. Abdulla Musaliyar drew widespread condemnation for objecting to a Class 10 girl student being invited onto the dais to receive an award. Sunni outfits, including SYS (with Abdul Hameed Faizi Ambalakkadavu as a working secretary at the time), defended the scholar, arguing it aligned with religious stipulations against grown-up girls appearing before unrelated men.
The remarks have reignited debates on modernity versus orthodoxy, personal freedom, and religious interpretation in Kerala’s diverse society. While supporters see them as necessary reminders of faith-based boundaries, detractors argue they undermine women’s progress and the community’s integration in a secular, democratic India.
