On 7th September (Monday), a case has been launched against journalist Aparna Kurup for remarks she made during a political debate regarding Sunni Islamic leader Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, popularly known as Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, on his controversial views against women appearing in public, which he insisted would cause “great destruction.” The development took place after Abdul Hakkim, a Kasaragod local, filed a complaint against her.
Kurup, who works as a senior coordinating editor of the Malayalam news channel Big TV, had to apologise for her remarks as the video of the program was removed from all platforms by the channel. According to the FIR (First Information Report), Kurup argued that some people act as though the teachings of the Quran allow for the use of cannabis, being arrested for drug offences or indulging in sexual misbehaviour during the debate. It further stated that she intentionally offended the religious sentiments of members of a religious community and made the comments understanding that they could disrupt the peace and possibly trigger a riot.
Sections 192, 299, 302 and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been invoked against her by the Kochi City Cyber Police. The statutes used against her include provocation meant to incite rioting, intentional and malicious conduct meant to offend religious sentiments, utterances likely to incite animosity between various groups and words or gestures meant to hurt religious sentiments.
The regulations contain penalties that might include a fine, up to three years in prison, or both. She has also been booked under section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act, which carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison, a maximum fine of Rs 5,000, or both.
The latest action unfolded after a case against Abdulla Basil CP, who is a leader of the Salafi group Wisdom Youth, was dropped. On Saturday, Kurup had registered a complaint against him, asserting that she was being subjected to threats of assault, instilling fear and unrest, disrupting public order and endangering her safety as a result of his comments in the panel discussion on social media.
Basil had taken part in a discussion regarding the row and uploaded a video with slugs from the channel which included Kurup’s remarks, alleging Islamophobia. However, multiple leaders of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF), including Youth Congress leader Rejil Makkutty alongside Muslim Youth League state general secretary and Koduvally MLA P K Firos, protested against the move.
Firos stated that he had spoken with Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala and demanded that the case against Basil be withdrawn. He stressed that the Muslim League had the authority to bring up such concerns because it was a part of the government. “When the Islamophobia inside her came out, Abdulla put forward a debate exposing it with clear facts,” he claimed.
Firos threatened that no such cases would be filed as long as IUML is in power, declaring, “We will not support anyone who uses communal language. But neither will we allow anyone to be implicated for exposing those who indulge in communalism.” Chennithala succumbed to the pressure and directed the police not to proceed with the case against Basil.
BJP calls out Congress for surrendering to Islamists
The decision provoked a strong reaction from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). PK Krishnadas, a member of the party’s national executive, charged that the occurrence was concerning since it demonstrated the growing influence of religious fundamentalist groups in the Congress-led government.
He accused the Congress ally Muslim League and the Muslim group Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama of putting pressure on Chief Minister V D Satheesan and also raised questions about the efforts to have the case against Basil withdrawn.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar, state president of the BJP, described it as a “Taliban-rule-like situation.” He conveyed that the UDF government had “surrendered to religious fundamentalists” and denounced the case against Kurup. He added that the events were similar to “Taliban rule” and chastised Congress leaders for speaking about women’s safety and press freedom while 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,” Chandrasekhar highlighted. He mentioned that the government was driving Kerala into “the complete control of religious fundamentalist organisations” and cautioned that the security and democratic principles of the state might be in jeopardy.
