An Islamic scholar in Kerala sparked a controversy with his remarks on a fitness regimen popular in north Kerala. Kanthapuram AP Abubacker Musaliyar claimed that the regimen promotes intermingling of men and women in a manner he considered inappropriate. Speaking indirectly about MEC 7 (Multi-Exercise Combination) a widely practiced fitness programme, Kanthapuram criticised the initiative for allegedly eroding religious boundaries.
“Now, in the name of exercise, a project has begun, and it is present in every town and village,” Kanthapuram said. “When we enquire about what we see, it is that there is an intermingling of men and women. Not just that, women are exposing their bodies and doing this exercise. The programme has even abolished the thought that men and women seeing one another is ‘haram’.”
The Sunni faction leader added that when he raises such concerns, critics dismiss him as outdated. “When we say this, the question is: isn’t this good? Isn’t exercise good? They abuse us Musaliyars by saying we have not understood the world,” he remarked.
Kanthapuram’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from political leaders and activists, with Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu condemning the statement as regressive. “This statement is highly reactionary and gender-biased. We live in the 21st century, but still, some people resort to these obsolete ideas,” she said.
Controversy surrounding the MEC-7 fitness programme is not new. In October, a CPI(M) leader raised an alarm regarding this, saying that the Jamaat was using it as a shield for its campaign for Islamic nation.
CPI(M) Kozhikode district secretary P Mohanan claimed that Jama’at-e-Islami, with backing from members of the banned PFI, was conducting physical training sessions in multiple locations.
Mohanan later clarified his comment saying neither he nor the CPI(M) said anything about MEC 7, stating that his remarks were merely a caution against religious radicals infiltrating public spaces and should not be misinterpreted.