A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar: A Controversial Cleric at the Centre of Nimisha Priya's Hopeful Pardon

Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, 94-year-old Muslim cleric from Kerala with the title of ‘Grand Mufti of India’, has emerged as a key figure in the postponement of the execution of Indian nurse Nimisha Priya in Yemen's Houthi rebels-held city of Sana'a. 

Built on his role as an eminent Sunni Muslim authority, it was after his intervention that death sentence of Nimisha Priya, accused of murdering a Yemeni national called Talal Abdo Mahdi in 2017, was postponed. In 2020, a Yemeni court sentenced her to death, a ruling reaffirmed by the Supreme Judicial Council of the Houthi administration in 2023.

He is said to have contacted religious leaders in Yemen, who communicated with Mahdi's relatives. Musliyar claimed he ``intervened as a human being. I asked the religious scholars there to intervene for the sake of humanity." Musliyar is said to have suggested the notion of clemency in return for financial restitution to the victim's family—commonly known as blood money—as a possible resolution for Priya.

"If the murderer receives a death sentence, the victim's family possesses the right to grant clemency," Musliyar elucidated.

"I was unaware of this family until Congress MLA Chandy Oommen requested my intervention; however, I have since reached out to reputable scholars in Yemen, who are now addressing my requests," he told 카지노.

"I conveyed the seriousness of the matter to them. Islam is a faith that emphasises humanity's paramount significance. I sincerely hope humanity will triumph," he stated.

The title `Grand Mufti of India'' is mainly symbolic but is largely influential among the Sunni Muslim clergy. Aboobacker was elected in February 2019 as Grand Mufti by All India Tanzeem Ulama-e-Islam, a national body of Sunni clerics. He is the 10th to hold the title.

For women's rights advocates, civil society organisations, and numerous progressive Islamic academics in Kerala, he however epitomises misogyny.

In November 2015, he sparked controversy by declaring gender equality "un-Islamic" and stating that women are inherently inferior to men, suited only for childbearing.

Musliyar's adherents have sought to elucidate his statements, claiming that he was misquoted and was highlighting the distinct "roles" of men and women in society as interpreted through traditional Islamic teachings. His adversaries see Musliyar as a chameleon who regularly modifies his position to conform to the dominant ruling authorities'.

He is affiliated with Kerala's ruling CPI(M), the BJP and RSS at the national level. The Sangh Parivar holds a reasonable opinion of him, as he was among the few individuals outside their circle who contested the admission of women into Sabarimala, the temple dedicated to the hermit god Ayyappa.

This objection was significant, particularly considering that the CPI(M) government had allowed women's admission after a favourable Supreme Court verdict.

He also gave controversial statements during the debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019-20, which incited major demonstrations among Indian Muslims, asking women to refrain from engaging in street rallies against the CAA, although he articulated his dissent with the act.

Musliyar has also faced serious accusations, including money laundering and land fraud. He is alleged to have had a hand in the disappearance of Chekannur Moulavi (P. K. Mohammed Abdul Hassan), a reformist Islamic scholar and founder of the Quran Sunnath Society, who vanished under enigmatic circumstances on July 29, 1993.

Notwithstanding these accusations, the 94-year-old priest, known as the 'Grand Mufti of India,' persists in garnering extensive acclaim throughout Kerala and beyond, despite no official recognition of the title of the tenth individual to assume this title. The name 'Mufti' denotes an authority in Islamic jurisprudence, and India has several distinguished muftis, with significant mosques functioning as their bases.

Based in Karanthoor, Kozhikode district, Kerala, he is a notable leader within the Sunni sect of Islam in India and the South Asian region.

Musliyar is the chairman of the Markaz Knowledge City project, a private integrated city in Kozhikode. This project encompasses medical and law colleges, a cultural complex, and various amenities to create employment opportunities.

Despite the controversies, Musliyar is esteemed by numerous followers as a proponent of` peace and preservation', having participated in major national and international conferences dedicated to peace and interfaith communication. Nevertheless, he has encountered censure from the Congress party and certain members of the Muslim community.

Within the Muslim community, Musliyar has attracted both proponents and opponents. His detractors allege that he has aligned too closely with the BJP and RSS, especially during the protests against the CAA and NRC. His reactions to mob lynching and anti-Muslim violence in Northern India, as well as his positions on hijab prohibitions and other communal matters, have resulted in allegations of compromising community interests. Some consider his measured or impartial tone on these issues `troublesome'.

Critics argue that he engages in "silent collaboration" or "strategic neutrality" to secure advantages for his institutions or maintain his authority.

Despite overseeing multiple prominent private schools, Musliyar has issued several contentious statements about secular or contemporary education systems, asserting that Islamic education should be prioritised and cautioning that Western-style education may "corrupt" the youth. These perspectives frequently conflict with broader educational reform initiatives in Kerala.

He, however, garnered immense fame a few years ago for rehabilitating numerous young Kashmiri individuals who survived bomb strikes and became orphans.

The Indian government and a citizens' organisation are collaborating to prevent Priya's execution. Musliyar's intervention has rejuvenated these initiatives. Priya's mother, presently in Yemen to negotiate with the relatives of the murder victim, conveyed her satisfaction over the outcomes stemming from Musliyar's acts. Reports indicate that negotiations over the compensation amount have recommenced. Nonetheless, the issue is intricate as India lacks formal diplomatic relations with the Houthis, the insurgent faction governing significant territories in Yemen, including the capital, Sana'a.

Musliyar's involvement garnered commendations from prominent individuals, including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who recognised Musliyar's endeavours to leverage religion for societal enhancement and value dissemination within the community.

Feminist activist and author C.S. Chandrika remarked, "He has frequently encountered our denunciation for articulating profoundly misogynistic remarks. He is currently playing a crucial role in preventing a woman from execution. It is an enduring source of pride for Musliyar.''