Archive · 3 Sep 2026
M A Baby Condemns Kanthapuram’s Restrictions on Women’s Public Freedom
Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar spoke against women taking part freely in some public activities.
He said women appearing freely in public could cause “great destruction.”
His comments followed a circular from an Islamic organization about women sharing platforms and joining processions with unrelated men.
Communist Party leader M A Baby strongly criticized these views.
Baby said women and men should have equal rights under India’s Constitution.
He also compared Kanthapuram’s position with views he attributed to the RSS.
Baby said religious ideas should not cancel constitutional rights.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan was also reported to disagree with the remarks.
CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby criticized Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar’s remarks on restricting women’s presence in public spaces.
Kanthapuram reportedly said at an Islamic event in Kochi that women’s unrestricted public appearance would cause “great destruction.”
The controversy followed a Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama circular concerning women standing on public platforms, sharing stages, and joining road processions with unrelated men.
Baby said religious interpretations must uphold India’s constitutional guarantee of gender equality and cannot override constitutional values or the legal system.
Baby compared Kanthapuram’s position with views he attributed to the RSS, while Chief Minister V D Satheesan was also reported to disagree with the remarks.
- Who
- CPI(M) general secretary M A Baby criticized Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar’s remarks; Chief Minister V D Satheesan was also reported to disagree.
- What
- Baby condemned views advocating restrictions on women’s presence and participation in public spaces.
- When
- Kanthapuram made the remarks on a Sunday; PTI reported Baby’s response on September 3, a Thursday.
- Where
- Kanthapuram spoke at an Islamic event in Kochi; Baby responded to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.
- Why
- Baby said restrictions based on religious interpretation conflict with India’s constitutional commitment to gender equality.
Constitutional Gender Equality
Religiously Grounded Restrictions
Women in public spaces
Constitutional Gender Equality
M A Baby said women’s freedom and participation in public life are protected by constitutional values and should not be restricted in the name of religion.
Religiously Grounded Restrictions
Kanthapuram advocated restrictions on women’s public presence and reportedly said unrestricted public appearance could cause “great destruction.”
Religious interpretation and law
Constitutional Gender Equality
Baby argued that no religious interpretation should override constitutional values, the legal system, or gender equality.
Religiously Grounded Restrictions
Kanthapuram defended restrictions as religiously grounded, with the report saying he claimed the Quran mandates women remain indoors to protect their dignity.
Public platforms and processions
Constitutional Gender Equality
Baby’s position supports women’s equal participation in public life without such gender-based restrictions.
Religiously Grounded Restrictions
The Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama circular reportedly directed madrasas not to allow women to stand on public platforms, share stages, or participate in road processions alongside unrelated men.
- Main critic
- M A Baby, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
- Remarks criticized
- Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar advocated restrictions on women’s presence in public spaces.
- Reported wording
- Kanthapuram said women’s unrestricted public appearance would cause “great destruction.”
- Organization circular
- Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama reportedly directed madrasas not to allow women to stand on public platforms, share stages, or join road processions alongside unrelated men.
- Constitutional principle
- Baby said the Constitution of India guarantees gender equality.
- Political comparison
- Baby alleged that Kanthapuram’s position was similar to views he attributed to the RSS and Mohan Bhagwat.
- Other reaction
- Chief Minister V D Satheesan was reported to say that he did not agree with the views.
