Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama issued a formal circular declaring that young women appearing among unrelated men on public roads and stages is not permissible, igniting a sharp debate across the state regarding religious directives and gender equality.
The circular, published under the leadership of Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar and president E. Sulaiman Musliyar, was introduced in connection with Milad celebrations marking the 1,501st birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad. Elaborating on the stance at an Islamic conference held in Kochi, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar defended the restriction by arguing that public exposure leads to societal decay.
Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar Cites Islamic Principles
Addressing attendees at the Kochi conference, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar defended the clerical body's position on female seclusion and public participation.
"It is precisely recognising that bringing women onto public platforms in this manner causes great destruction that Islam mandated purdah for women," Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar stated. "The Holy Quran states that women should live confined within their homes and must not make public appearances.
The exact date of the circular's formal issuance has not been specified in public releases, though it surfaced in reports circulated around August 31, 2026, and September 3, 2026.
Political and Clerical Counter-Perspectives
The directive has drawn swift condemnation from political figures. P.K. Sreemathy, a central committee member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), criticized the language used in the circular, labeling it as deeply anti-women and demanding its immediate withdrawal.
At the same time, divisions within religious leadership have emerged. Syed Mohammed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, who heads the rival Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama Chelari faction, defended the autonomy of religious scholars to preach according to their interpretations. Accepting or rejecting such guidance remains an individual choice, Thangal noted while cautioning against disparaging religious scholars.
The controversy follows historical precedents within the state's traditional Islamic organizations. In May 2022, Syed Muhammad Jifri Muthukoya Thangal publicly justified an incident where a Class X girl was rebuked for stepping onto a stage, asserting that girls experience natural shyness in public settings and reiterating that female education must strictly remain within traditional Islamic boundaries.
Downstream Stakes for Kerala Women
For Muslim women in Kerala, the directive carries tangible social implications. Civil society observers and community advocates note that such edicts may increase social pressure and reinforce restrictions on women participating in educational, cultural, and public forums, thereby narrowing their civic participation.
The ongoing dispute presents a persistent challenge for political parties and civic institutions attempting to balance constitutional guarantees of religious freedom with principles of gender equality and women's rights.
