By Twocircles.net Staff Reporter,
Kozhikode: The recent comment by the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulema leader Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar has reignited the debates over the gender equality and role of women in making up the society. Kanthapuram’s statement, in which he described the concept of gender equality un-Islamic and said that women could never equal men, has drawn criticism from Muslim outfits.
Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliar
During a speech, delivered in a campus conference organised by Sunni Students Federation in Kozhikode on Saturday, Kanthapuram said that women could never equal men as they are “fit only to deliver children.” He went on to say that women have no mental strength and the power to control the universe, “which lies in the hands of men.”
Amidst, the debate on the role of Muslim women in Islam and gender equality, IUML state president Panakkad Syed Hyder Ali Shihab Thangal said that the Muslim women are obliged to use their talents for the development of the community. “The women should expertise in various fields, including healthcare, engineering and administration for the forward movement of the community with a pan-India vision,” Thangal said, while inaugurating the National Conference of the Indian Union Women’s League (IUWL) in Kochi.
“There are a number of experienced women from Muslim community in almost all fields such as healthcare, engineering, administration, LSG bodies, Kudumbashree, entrepreneurship, commerce and industry. Their talents and expertise can be made use of for the common forward movement of the community,” he added.
“You have to take up this challenge with a pan-India vision because our people especially in North and Eastern India are under- privileged,” Thangal further said.
Muslim Educational Society (MES) state president Dr. Fazal Gafoor has alleged that Kanthapuram was giving stick to Sangh Parivar to beat Muslims with.
While addressing the media persons here at MES Fathima Gafoor Women’s College in Kozhikode on Sunday, Fazal Gafoor said, “being a progressive organisation MES can’t approve such statements and the Muslim outfits should be up in arms against Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar on such views.”
He added that the Muslim fundamentalism also prevented the social development of the whole country as it is done by the Hindu fundamentalism. “It’s high time the secular parties and the progressive organisations should join their hands against such worse tendencies,” Fazal Gafoor said.
Kanthapuram has meanwhile said that his statement was distorted. Soon after a controversy erupted on Saturday over his statement, Kanthapuram on Sunday said that Islam was a religion that accords due respect to women.
A release, issued by Kanthapuram said, “Islam is a religion that gives due respect to the role of women. There are several women who serve various sectors like education, healthcare and running families,” The statement, however, added, “Unlike men, women have certain limitations. She needs to be given special protection and consideration.”
The press release went on to say that the women were blessed with the grace of giving birth and taking care of kids and family. “I had given stress to this point in my speech. But it has been distorted,” Kanthapuram said.
Referring to the recent allegations raised against Madrassa teachers that children face abuses at madrasas, Kanthapuram said: “Those who raise the allegation should bring evidence for it.”