Islamic scholar and Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, has sought to explain his controversial comments about women's participation in public life, saying he does not believe women should occupy a secondary position in society.
Speaking at a public conference following the widespread backlash over his earlier remarks, Kanthapuram said it was wrong to suggest that Islam assigns women a subordinate status. He maintained that Islamic teachings do not call for women to be suppressed or "buried".
The cleric pointed to educational institutions operated by the faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama led by him, including women-only institutions, as examples of the opportunities available to women.
"It is not fair to say that we gave women second place in society," he said, noting that there are institutions in some areas where only girls study and women work as teachers.
Kanthapuram also highlighted his contribution to these institutions, saying he has provided students with food, accommodation and medicines free of charge.
"In many parts of India, I have created separate institutions for male and female and have been providing all necessities for free," he said.
Rejecting any suggestion that women should be denied dignity or rights, he added, "Holy Islam is not a religion that buries women. None of us are people who will say women should be buried."
The clarification comes amid a major controversy over his earlier comments that allowing women into public spaces "causes great destruction" and his assertion that Islam therefore prescribed purdah for women. He had also claimed that the Quran instructs women to remain at home and avoid appearing in public.
His remarks drew sharp criticism from women's organisations, ministers, intellectuals, political leaders from both the ruling coalition and Opposition, and sections of civil society. Critics accused the 95-year-old scholar of promoting a regressive view of women's participation in public life.
In an apparent effort to address the criticism, Kanthapuram reiterated that Islam is not regressive towards women. He also said that around 500 girls study and teach at one of the institutions associated with him, while orphaned girls are also provided care and educational opportunities.
However, his defence of the original remarks in the days following the controversy had further intensified the dispute.
The issue gained fresh momentum on Thursday when Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan firmly rejected Kanthapuram's views, making it clear that neither the government nor the Congress endorsed the cleric's position.
A delegation from the Kanthapuram-led faction met Satheesan on Wednesday night and attempted to withdraw the statement concerning the cleric's comments. The Chief Minister, however, declined to support the position.
During a press briefing, Satheesan said Kanthapuram's remarks were inconsistent with both the history of women in Islam and the values of contemporary Kerala and Indian society.
Citing Islamic history, Satheesan referred to Khadija, the first wife of Prophet Muhammad, and Aisha, another wife of the Prophet, to highlight the role women played in public life.
"Khadija, the Prophet's first wife, was a major businesswoman. Another wife of the Prophet, Aisha, took part in the Battle of the Camel. She was the commander-in-chief," Satheesan said.
He added that such a 19th-century perspective had no place in the 21st century and stressed that women should not be restricted to their homes but should participate fully in society and all aspects of life.
CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby also criticised Kanthapuram's comments, saying they reflected a "reluctance to recognise gender equality" and alleging that they "echoed views expressed by the RSS". Baby said such a position was incompatible with the Indian Constitution's guarantee of gender equality.
BJP Kerala president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, meanwhile, accused the Congress-led state government and its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League, of permitting efforts to push Kerala towards what he described as a "regressive" social system.
Amid the widespread criticism of his remarks, despite receiving support from sections of other religious communities, Kanthapuram has now attempted to clarify his position, reiterating that Islam does not advocate the suppression of women.
