New Delhi, August 31 – The Grand Mufti of Kerala, Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, sparked a heated debate after suggesting that women should stay at home and avoid public life, citing the Quran as his source.
Dr Shalini Ali, a leader of the Muslim Rashtriya Manch, responded sharply on the same day, arguing that Indian daughters deserve an open sky, not confinement. She described the mufti’s remarks as regressive and insisted that women cannot be treated as possessions to be protected by limiting their freedom.
Ali emphasized that confining women under the guise of dignity or security undermines their rights, aspirations and achievements. “A woman is neither a gold necklace nor a decorative object that can be locked away in a box. She is a free human being with dreams, talent, hard work and the right to make her own decisions,” she said.
The controversy began when the mufti, during a speech, defended the practice of purdah and compared women to a gold necklace kept in a cupboard to prevent damage. He argued that exposing women to public life could cause “great destruction” and that purdah safeguards their value.
Ali rejected the analogy, pointing out that jewellery can be owned and stored, whereas women are autonomous individuals with constitutional rights. She stressed that true respect for women lies in recognizing their capabilities and allowing them to choose their own paths.
Highlighting modern India, Ali listed women serving as fighter pilots, scientists, doctors, engineers, judges, journalists, entrepreneurs and sportspersons. She noted that women now occupy positions across all three branches of the armed forces and contribute significantly to nation‑building.
According to Ali, restricting women to domestic roles not only limits personal aspirations but also curtails the potential of half the country's population.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: Daijiworld