Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Kanthapuram Urges Calm Amid Controversy Over Remarks on Women
Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar is facing criticism over comments about women.
Some people understood his earlier remarks as saying women should stay at home and avoid public platforms.
He later said he does not support burying, barring or confining women.
He pointed to schools and madrassas created especially for girls.
He also said some institutions educate and support orphaned girls.
In a Facebook post, he asked his followers not to react angrily to the controversy.
He said discussions should help people examine ideas and learn.
He warned that some people might use the issue to create divisions.
V D Satheesan criticized the reported view, while Kanthapuram’s supporters demanded an apology from him.
Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar urged followers not to be provoked into controversies or social divisions.
He said spiritual and religious discussions should objectively examine ideas and promote the pursuit of knowledge.
Kanthapuram denied supporting the burial, barring or confinement of women and cited girls’ schools and madrassas.
His earlier remarks suggesting women should stay at home and avoid public platforms triggered widespread criticism.
V D Satheesan criticized the reported position, while organizations linked to Kanthapuram’s Sunni group sought an apology from him.
- Who
- Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar, his followers, V D Satheesan and organizations associated with Kanthapuram’s Sunni group.
- What
- Kanthapuram urged restraint amid criticism of remarks interpreted as opposing women’s public presence, while clarifying that he does not support barring or confining women.
- When
- The Facebook appeal was reported on Friday, September 4, after Kanthapuram’s clarification on Thursday.
- Where
- Kanthapuram made his clarification at a programme in Thrissur, while the Facebook post was reported from Kozhikode, Kerala.
- Why
- He said spiritual discussions should not be diverted into controversies and divisions that undermine knowledge and create social divisions.
Critics of the remarks
Kanthapuram and supporters
Women’s public role
Critics of the remarks
Critics said Kanthapuram’s remarks suggested that women should remain at home and avoid public platforms. V D Satheesan described the reported position as outdated.
Kanthapuram and supporters
Kanthapuram said it was incorrect to claim that women had been given second place and denied supporting their burial, barring or confinement.
Meaning of the controversy
Critics of the remarks
Critics viewed the remarks and the reported restrictions on women appearing with men at religious events as discriminatory toward women.
Kanthapuram and supporters
Kanthapuram said discussions should objectively examine ideas, while alleging that vested interests were diverting spiritual discussions to create controversy and division.
Response to criticism
Critics of the remarks
Various sections of society criticized the reported remarks, including V D Satheesan.
Kanthapuram and supporters
Kanthapuram urged followers to respond with maturity rather than emotion, while organizations linked to his Sunni group demanded an apology from Satheesan.
- Central controversy
- Kanthapuram faced criticism over remarks suggesting women should stay at home and avoid public platforms.
- Kanthapuram’s clarification
- He said he was not among those who advocated burying, barring or confining women.
- Education initiatives
- He said madrassas and schools exclusively for girls had been established to provide education and opportunities.
- Support for orphaned girls
- Kanthapuram said several institutions also cared for orphaned girls.
- Appeal to followers
- He urged followers to respond to provocation with maturity, wisdom, discipline and restraint.
- Criticism
- V D Satheesan described the reported position as a 19th-century view with no place in progressive Kerala.
- Organizational response
- Organizations associated with Kanthapuram’s Sunni group sought an apology from V D Satheesan.
