IUML politician lampooned for snubbing woman leader

KOZHIKODE: Khamarunnisa Anwar, the state president of the Women's League, has become the embodiment of Muslim women's aspirations and a rallying point for the progressives in the community in the war against the orthodoxy that prevents women from occupying public places.
The story about she being denied permission to speak at a public rally on November 12, held as part of the state conference of the Muslim Youth League, by IUML state secretary M C Mayin Haji has now gone viral in social media attracting critical voices.While denying her the permission to speak Mayin Haji had said there is no history (in the party) where a women addressed a gathering of men. In the audio clipping of the conversation he is heard telling Khamarunnisa that such thing was unheard of even in the meetings of the Mujahids., considered progressives in the community.
Recalling the contribution of M Haleema Beevi, who was the editor of a magazine and a public speaker in 1960s, Mujeebrehman Kinaloor, writer and a leader of the Hussein Madavoor faction of the Mujahids, wanted to know whether Mayin Haji is aware of this history?
In his Facebook post Mujeebrehman says that not many know the Muslim woman who became the editor of 'Bharatha Chandrika' when she was just seventeen years of age. "Vaikkom Muhammad Basheer was the assistant editor of the magazine and stalwarts like Sukumar Azhikode and M Krishnan Nair were the contributors," he wrote.
Haleema Beevi was not just an editor but an activist who fought against superstitions in the community and the discrimination against women. "She made a speech at the Mujahid conference at Francis Road in Kozhikode in 1960s in which she declared that women are not just delivery machines who are destined to live in kitchens," wrote Mujeebrehman.
Mayin Haji, however, contended that the whole issue was created by vested interests. "The public meeting is a structured programme and time limit was stipulated to all speakers except Hyder Ali Thangal and Ramesh Chennithala. It was a tight schedule and Khamarunnisa was not among the list of the speakers," he said.
Mayin Haji said around forty leaders including MLAs, former minister and state office-bearers of the party were present on the stage but they did not get a chance to address because of want of time. "You must understand that Noorbina Rasheed, general secretary of the Women's League, addressed the meeting on November 10.. How could that happen if we are against women addressing the gathering of men?" he asked.
Khamarunnisa was subdued in her response. "I will remain a disciplined member of party," she said adding that she will raise the issue at proper venue of the party if needed. "Though my speech was not scheduled, I thought the organisers will invite me to address the gathering and I waited until 10 pm. As they didn't call me to deliver speech, I stood up from the seat to leave the venue," she said.