Amid row over remarks on women, Kanthapuram urges followers not to be ‘provoked' into controversies
Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar has urged his followers to avoid controversy following backlash over his remarks regarding women. He clarified that he supports women's education and denied advocating for their confinement.
Why it matters
The statement addresses ongoing debates regarding gender roles within religious communities and the potential for social division.
Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, facing criticism over his alleged anti-women remarks , on Friday (September 4, 2026) urged his followers not to be provoked or allow “spiritual discussions” to be diverted into controversies and divisions.
In a Facebook post, the veteran Sunni scholar said discussions should provide “healthy platforms to objectively assess ideas and learn new things.”
“We must clearly identify the vested interests of those who deliberately try to divert such spiritual discussions towards controversies and divisions,” he said.
He alleged that such “evil intentions” sought to undermine the pursuit of knowledge and create divisions in society, and urged his followers to approach such attempts with utmost vigilance.
Kanthapuram urged them to respond to any provocation with maturity and wisdom, rather than emotion.
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