Kozhikode: The KNM Markazudawa has launched a fierce critique against Sunni leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, condemning his recent comments on women as deeply misogynistic and regressive.

Speaking on the issue, Abdul Latheef Karumbilakkal, Secretary of KNM Markazudawa, accused the cleric of attempting to confine women to the domestic sphere.

"There is no scriptural basis in Islam for keeping women tied to their homes or kitchens," Karumbilakkal stated. "Religion does not oppose women entering public life, managing their own affairs, or engaging in social matters. It is clerical orthodoxy that repeatedly stands in the way of progress."

Historical context cited

Challenging the cleric's stance, Markazudawa cited historical precedents from the era of Prophet Muhammad. The organisation pointed out that the Prophet’s first wife, Khadija, was one of Mecca’s most prominent merchants and operated without restriction.

Furthermore, Karumbilakkal noted that women actively participated in public life during the early Islamic period, assisting in logistics and auxiliary roles during military campaigns for state defense, and taking part in civic and community service.

Markazudawa asserted that deliberate attempts to restrict women to the home have persisted in Kerala for over a century, framing Kanthapuram’s latest remarks as part of a longer continuum of conservative pushback. However, the organisation expressed confidence that such views would find little traction today, given that women are increasingly empowered through education and employment.

Criticism of Muslim League's 'Soft Stance'

While the Mujahid movement has historically supported women's public participation, Markazudawa acknowledged that even certain official Mujahid factions have recently drifted toward more conservative positions. Markazudawa apparently stands out as the sole Mujahid group to openly challenge Kanthapuram's statements on this occasion.

The organisation also expressed disappointment with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). Given that the party made history in the recent Assembly elections with its first woman MLA entering the legislature, Markazudawa had anticipated a firm condemnation of the cleric’s comments."

Instead, senior IUML leaders, including Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, adopted a soft stance, refraining from directly rejecting Kanthapuram's remarks. Markazudawa urged the IUML leadership to reconsider its position, warning that such passive responses undermine the party's historical legacy.

Markazudawa underscored its position at a recent event in Kozhikode, which featured active participation from women both on stage and in the audience—a move intended to visually and practically counter the cleric's doctrine.