Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim clarified that he does not align with all the viewpoints expressed by Kerala-based Islamic cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliar, especially ahead of their planned meeting in Kozhikode. Speaking exclusively to NDTV at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Anwar reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to women’s rights while acknowledging Kanthapuram’s contributions as a religious teacher.
—
## Context Behind the Meeting
– **Scheduled visit**: Anwar was set to meet Kanthapuram in Kozhikode on Sunday.
– **Triggering comments**: Kanthapuram recently asserted in Kochi that the Quran stipulates women should remain confined to their homes, avoid public appearances, and practice purdah, claiming that public roles lead to “great destruction.”
– **Political response**: Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan condemned those views as archaic and misinterpretations of Islam. Later, Kanthapuram stated that he and his supporters did not believe women should be confined as previously described.
—
## Anwar’s Stance: Respectful, But Not in Agreement
– **On Kanthapuram’s religious role**: Anwar acknowledged him as a traditional scholar with deep knowledge of the Quran, the Prophet’s life, and Islamic teachings—calling him a respected teacher.
– **On differing viewpoints**: “We do not necessarily share all his views,” Anwar said, highlighting that reverence and dissent can coexist.
—
## Why Equality Matters: Malaysia’s Lens
– **Women’s rights at the forefront**: Anwar emphasised that Malaysia, under his leadership, guarantees equal rights for women. He pointed out that female students in nursing colleges inevitably serve in hospitals—demonstrating women’s participation beyond domestic spaces.
– **Personal illustration**: “My wife’s a medical doctor. All my kids, including the girls, have been given all the opportunity to study and have the freedom.”
—
## Diplomatic Nuance: Broader Implications
– **Conversations among leaders**: Anwar noted that disagreements are normal, whether with scholars, presidents, or prime ministers. He mentioned referencing these differences with PM Narendra Modi too.
– **Diaspora ties and regional outreach**: He stressed the importance of South India to Malaysia’s diaspora and had intentions to visit Tamil Nadu. However, scheduling issues prompted him to postpone that part of his trip and focus instead on Kerala.
—
## What Kanthapuram Originally Said
– At a conference organised by the All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama in Kochi, Kanthapuram argued that Quranic teachings require women to stay at home and avoid public appearances, citing purdah as essential and warning that women’s presence on public platforms causes societal harm.
– Upon facing criticism, Kanthapuram later clarified that neither he nor those with him had advocated for fully confining women to the home.
—
## Looking Ahead: What to Expect
Given their meeting, observers will watch closely:
– How Anwar personally communicates Malaysia’s stance on gender equality in his discussion with Kanthapuram.
– Whether this exchange signals broader shifts in dialogue between political leaders and religious voices both in Malaysia and India.
– The impact on Malaysian expatriate communities and public perception in Kerala, particularly among women and progressive groups.
—
This article is AI-generated content. Please verify the information independently before taking any action based on this article. before returning it. Do not rewrite, summarize, rephrase, shorten, expand, or make any changes to the text content. Only remove all URLs, hyperlinks, website addresses, source links, ChatGPT referral links, RSS source links, tracking parameters (including utm_source, utm_medium, utm_campaign, and other UTM tags), and any attribution to the original news source. Preserve the text exactly as written. Return only the cleaned content with no links, tracking parameters, or source references.
