Case against Kerala anchor over remarks during debate on cleric's sexist comments

The Kerala Police on Monday registered a case against television journalist Aparna Kurup over remarks made during a political debate on controversial comments by Sunni Islamic scholar Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar about women appearing in public.

The case was registered against Kurup, senior coordinating editor of Malayalam news channel Big TV, on the basis of a complaint filed by Abdul Hakkim, a native of Kasaragod, after her comments sparked a massive row.

According to the FIR, during the debate, Kurup remarked that certain individuals act as if consuming cannabis, being arrested for narcotics offences, or engaging in sexual misconduct is permissible under the teachings of the Quran.

The complaint alleged that she made the remarks with the intention and knowledge that they could cause a breach of peace and potentially lead to a riot, while also deliberately hurting the religious sentiments of members of a religious community.

The sections invoked against her relate to provoking riots, deliberately hurting religious sentiments, wounding religious feelings through words or gestures and promoting enmity between different groups. The offences carry punishments ranging from up to six months to three years in prison, a fine, or both. A section of the Kerala Police Act, which carries a punishment of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to Rs 5,000, or both, has also been invoked.

The case relates to Kurup's introductory remarks before the television discussion on comments made by Kanthapuram about women appearing on public platforms. Kanthapuram, one of the tallest Muslim clerics in Kerala and the Grand Mufti of India, recently said Islam prescribes that women must be confined to their homes and that if they step out, it would lead to "great destruction".

According to the police, Kurup made the alleged remarks while criticising Kanthapuram's statement. Following the broadcast, she faced severe criticism from several sections, particularly Muslim organisations. She also faced attacks on social media, following which the journalist filed a separate case, police said.

NO FURTHER ACTION IN CASE OVER REMARKS AGAINST JOURNALIST

The controversy further escalated after police registered a case against two persons, including a leader of an Islamist organisation, over alleged threats of physical assault against Kurup following the debate.

However, the government later decided not to take any further action in the case against Abdulla Basil CP, an office-bearer of the Wisdom Islamic Organisation, following widespread criticism over the action.

Basil had participated in a channel discussion on Kanthapuram's remarks. After the programme, he posted a video containing certain statements made by Kurup, along with slugs from the channel. The post alleged that, instead of discussing the issue, the channel was attempting to spread Islamophobia.

Those opposed to the case against Basil argued that he was legitimately criticising the journalist in a democratic manner and that the comments on his social media post, rather than the post itself, were abusive in nature. Several political leaders also came out in support of Basil, including Congress leaders and leaders of its ally, the IUML.

IUML MLA PK Firoze publicly sought the withdrawal of the case against Basil and said he had contacted Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, asking that the case be withdrawn. He said the Muslim League was part of the government and had the right to raise such issues.

"When the Islamophobia inside her came out, Abdulla put forward a debate exposing it with clear facts," Firoze said, referring to Kurup's remarks and Basil's subsequent response.

Following the criticism, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala directed the police not to take any further action against Basil.

JOURNALIST'S APOLOGY

Amid the row, the journalist had apologised over the remarks, saying the discussion was aimed at upholding equality and social justice for women. She also said the channel had removed the controversial videos from its platforms.

"Some of the remarks made during the Big Dialogue discussion on gender discrimination against women should have been avoided. If they have hurt anyone's religious sentiments or beliefs, we express our unconditional regret," she said in a statement.

The channel added: "While upholding the demand that women should be given equal consideration and social justice irrespective of religion, we also acknowledge that, in the circumstances where the said video could create a misunderstanding in society, the video has been removed from all social media platforms of Big TV."

BJP ATTACKS UDF GOVERNMENT

With the Kerala Police filing a case against journalist Aparna Kurup, who held a debate on Kanthapuram's remarks, while directing no action in the case against the Muslim organisation leader who criticised her, the BJP launched a pointed attack on the Congress-led UDF government.

BJP national executive member PK Krishnadas alleged that the development showed the growing influence of religious fundamentalist forces in the V D Satheesan-led government and said it was a matter of concern.

BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar called it a "Taliban-rule-like situation".

Krishnadas alleged that pressure was being exerted on the Chief Minister through the Muslim outfit Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama and the Congress ally Muslim League. He also questioned the public intervention of a ruling-front MLA seeking the withdrawal of the case against Basil.

Chandrasekhar also condemned the registration of the case against Kurup and alleged that the UDF government had "surrendered to religious fundamentalists". He said the developments were reminiscent of "Taliban rule" and criticised Congress leaders for speaking about press freedom and women's safety while, according to him, failing to support Kurup.

"While Rahul Gandhi speaks at length about women's rights and equality on the one hand, the Congress government in Keralam is registering a case against a journalist who raised her voice for women's rights," the BJP leader added.

Chandrasekhar alleged that the government was pushing Kerala towards "the complete control of religious fundamentalist organisations" and warned that such governance could threaten the state's security and democratic values.

KANTHAPURAM APPEALS FOR RESTRAINT

As the controversy further escalated, Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar appealed to his followers not to be provoked by the developments.

In a statement, he urged his followers to respond with maturity and wisdom rather than reacting emotionally.

"In such situations, we should respond only with maturity and wisdom, without reacting emotionally in any way," he said, adding that the tradition of Sunni believers had been to confront every form of evil with goodness.

Kanthapuram also said conversations should serve as healthy platforms for objectively evaluating ideas and learning new things. At the same time, he urged people to identify what he described as vested interests seeking to turn spiritual discussions into controversies and divisions.

He said attempts to undermine the pursuit of knowledge and foster discord in society should be approached with vigilance.

"Followers must not succumb to any kind of provocation," he said, urging them to move forward with discipline and restraint without deviating from their fundamental objectives.