“Muslims girls should not be ‘exhibited’ before strangers,” says Kanthapuram AP Abubaker Musaliyar

Kanthapuram A.P. Abubaker Musaliyar, general secretary of Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulama (A.P. faction), stated on August 28 that young women should not be exhibited before strangers.

In a statement, he said that violations of religious boundaries were too serious. He emphasised that Islamic celebrations and rituals should not go beyond the prescribed boundaries.

“It is not suitable for believers to exhibit young girls before strangers and link them with non-Islamic rituals and celebrations. It is not permissible,” he said.

There had been criticism over the participation of women in the Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. Close on the heels of this, Kanthapuram issued instructions to area-wise organisers and Madrassas. He said organisers should ensure that these programmes are conducted within Islamic parameters. He gave these instructions to the office-bearers of mosques, Madrassas and other institutions.

Kanthapuram’s statement called for area-wise and other celebrations to comply with religious values and disciplines. He said leaders are responsible for imparting moral models to the coming generations. By moral models, he meant Islamic rules.

Observers were not surprised by Kanthapuram’s remarks. In May 2022, in Malappuram, Kerala, a senior leader of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, an influential body of Sunni Muslim scholars, stopped a 10th Standard girl student from receiving an academic achievement award. He said it was un-Islamic.

MT Abdulla Musaliyar publicly reprimanded the organisers for inviting her to the stage, asking them not to repeat the action. He also instructed them to call her parents instead.