Samastha says young women among unrelated men at public events ‘not permissible’

A circular issued by the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama led by Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliar has said it is “not permissible” for young women to be present among unrelated men at public roads and stages. The circular has drawn criticism for its outrageous and deeply anti-women language.

The circular, issued by Samastha president E Sulaiman Musliar and general secretary Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliar, calls on mahal committees, mosques, madrasas and other institutions to remain vigilant and ensure that Islamic celebrations do not cross what the organisation describes as religious limits.

The statement says, “Displaying young women among unrelated men on public roads and stages is not appropriate for believers and is not permissible.”

The directive effectively seeks to regulate women’s presence at public religious programmes, placing the onus on local religious leadership to monitor celebrations and ensure that women do not participate alongside unrelated men.

The circular comes amid the growing popularity of Milad-e-Sharif celebrations outside traditional religious spaces. In several places, programmes are being organised by youth clubs and other groups in public spaces, beyond mosques, madrasas and mahal committees.

Samastha has also objected to what it describes as the adoption of non-Islamic customs and celebration practices.

“The incorporation of non-Islamic customs and forms of celebration is not appropriate for believers and is not permissible,” the circular says.

It further directs that all programmes organised at mahal level and elsewhere should be conducted while safeguarding “religious values and discipline”. It says everyone has a responsibility to pass on “morally upright examples” to the coming generation.

The latest circular follows another Samastha directive on religious celebrations, which had similarly instructed mahals and madrasas not to allow women to be present among unrelated men at programmes.

CPI(M) central committee member PK Sreemathy had condemned the circular calling its language objectionable and demanding its withdrawal. She had also said that Prophet Muhammad and Islam called for women to be treated with respect and consideration.

Samastha functionaries had defended the directive, saying it was an instruction meant for its followers and that there was nothing new in it.