Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has taken a progressive stance on Muslim women's freedom, directly challenging the controversial position held The move is a significant departure from the IUML's stance on the issue.

Last week's Eid Milad-un-Nabi celebrations saw Musliyar, popularly known as Kanthapuram, issuing a written directive warning against women mingling with men in public places. In the directive, Kanthapuram stated that exhibiting young women in public places among unrelated men is un-Islamic and cannot be allowed.

“women should live confined their

“Women should live confined to their homes, and what the Quran teaches is that women should remain quietly confined to their homes. If women enter the public arena, there will be great destruction,” Kanthapuram said. His comments sparked a heated debate within the community, with some leaders and scholars backing his position while others criticized it.

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Despite the controversy, Congress ally IUML has come out in support of Kanthapuram's stance. However, Chief Minister Satheesan has rejected this position, saying it is not suitable for progressive Kerala. “Neither Congress nor the government can agree to that stand.

Such a thing should be stated in the 19th century, not in this 21st century,” he said.

Satheesan argued that women should live in mainstream society, taking part in all activities. He also pointed out that the Quran was being misinterpreted, citing examples of strong female figures from Islamic history such as Khadija, Aisha, and Bilkis.

Satheesan's rebuttal came close on the heels of IUML state chief Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal justifying Kanthapuram's stance. However, Satheesan maintained that women's safety was not a valid reason for restricting their movement.

Women's empowerment in Kerala has been marked The introduction of 50 per cent reservation for women in Kerala's three-tier local bodies has seen scores of Muslim women contest and win elections, sharing official spaces and public posts with men.

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Despite these gains, conservative clerics have continued to voice opposition to women's participation in public life. However, the tide appears to be shifting, with many Muslim women speaking out against restrictions on their movement.

Onam celebrations at educational institutions and offices saw Muslim women actively participating, wearing traditional Kerala attire. Videos of Muslim women dancing during the festivities went viral on social media, with many observing that they had stolen the show at this year's Onam celebrations.

The IUML stand on this issue is expected to remain close to Kanthapuram's stance, but it remains to be seen how the party will navigate this sensitive issue in the face of growing public pressure for greater female empowerment.