Thiruvananthapuram, 01 September (H.S.): Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) Kerala president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal has defended controversial remarks by Sunni leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar on women's participation in public life, describing them as the considered opinion of a religious scholar.

Responding to questions from journalists, Sadiq Ali Thangal said there was little more to add to Kanthapuram's statement. He suggested that the remarks might have been made with women's safety in mind, arguing that women were among the most vulnerable sections of society today.

Kanthapuram had triggered a controversy while addressing an Islamic conference in Kochi, where he reportedly said that bringing women onto public platforms could lead to serious social consequences. He also claimed that Islam prescribed the purdah system to prevent such situations and that the Quran advised women to remain within their homes instead of appearing in public life.

The comments drew sharp criticism from several quarters, with critics describing them as regressive and discriminatory. However, Sadiq Ali Thangal said the statement should be viewed as a scholar's interpretation, possibly rooted in concerns over social security and the threats faced by women.

Senior CPM leader P. Jayarajan strongly rejected Kanthapuram's position, saying that attempts to exclude women from public spaces reflected an outdated and conservative mindset.

Jayarajan said views seeking to confine women within the four walls of their homes and erase their presence from public life were incompatible with the values of a progressive society.

He maintained that women must be guaranteed freedom, equality and opportunities to participate actively in every sphere of public life. At a time when movements for women's emancipation and equal rights were gaining strength, society could not accept attempts to impose restrictions based on regressive interpretations, he said.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman