Kerala Grand Mufti Draws Outrage For Saying Women Should Stay Home
· India · NDTV, News18
Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, the grand mufti of Kerala's Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, told a religious gathering that women should not be allowed to leave their homes, comparing them to a necklace that must be kept inside a box to retain its beauty. The remarks, delivered in a recent sermon, have triggered sharp criticism from politicians and women's rights groups in Kerala, with many calling the comments regressive and insulting to women. The cleric is a recurring figure in controversies, having previously drawn flak for provocative statements on interfaith relations and women's roles. NDTV's report does not specify where exactly the sermon was held or when it took place. Calls for action against him have begun surfacing on social media.
Why it matters
The statement from one of Kerala's most influential Sunni Muslim clerics risks normalising regressive views on women at a time when gender equality remains a live political and social issue across India, and it gives ammunition to critics who target Kerala's Muslim community over personal-law debates.
Read the original report — NDTV
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