'Violates Islamic norms': Kerala Muslim leader flays co-ed fitness programme

Thiruvananthapuram: A Muslim leader in Kerala has flayed a co-ed fitness programme stating that it violates the Islamic norms.

All India Sunni Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar made the remarks on the backdrop of the row over a fitness programme, Multi Exercise Combination - 7 (MEC-7), which is gaining popularity in north Kerala districts.

Aboobacker said at a religious function in Malappuram that Islamic rules prescribed regulations for the mingling of men and women. The new fitness programme violates these regulations. Women are even exposing their bodies through such fitness programmes. Breaking the Islamic norms is leading to serious troubles in the society, he said.

Aboobacker had earlier courted controversy over a remark that the concept of gender equality was un-Islamic. He had also said that women could never be equal to men and they are fit only to deliver children.

The MEC-7 fitness programme, which is a combination of various fitness programmes, already courted controversy with BJP and CPM alleging that Muslim fundamentalists including the cadres of the banned outfit PFI misusing it to spread their ideologies. But the members of the programme had rejected the allegations.