Kerala: Mosque Faces Backlash for Caste-Based Discrimination, IMSD Condemns Act

New Delhi: The Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) has strongly condemned the decision of a mosque committee in Changanassery, Kerala. The Masjid committee allegedly barred a dalit Muslim from attending a general meeting, citing the person's ancestors' traditional exclusion from such gatherings.

IMSD, a prominent advocacy group, released a press statement expressing its dismay over the incident and emphasised that caste and caste-based discrimination should have no place in the religion of Islam.

The Incident

 According to a report, a Muslim youth belonging to the Ossan community, a marginalised group among Muslims, was subjected to discrimination by the ruling council of the historical Puthoorppally Mosque, Changanassery, Kerala’s Kottayam District. 

34-year-old Aneesh Sali was issued a notice by the Puthoorppally Muslim Jama-at council on July 3, 2023, restricting him in future from taking part in public meetings of the mahal committee, citing that laws had restricted his descendants from the same.

The notice undersigned by the secretary of the Puthoorppally Muslim Jama-ath, M H M Haneefa, says, “You had attended the public meeting of Puthoorppally Muslim Jamaath on 2/07/2023 and had written your name and surname on serial number 15 in the public attendance. Since the days of your forefathers and their descendants, they have not attended public meetings. Under sub-section (f) of section (16) of the Code of Conduct, the members are those who stand in accordance with the practice. On the contrary, your participation in a public meeting is considered ignorance. It is informed that this step should not be repeated any further. The public attendance on which you have signed has been cancelled.”

A community of traditional barbers and circumcisers among Muslims in Kerala are called Ossan Muslims. Cutting hair was considered a menial job and done only by those who were considered inferior and outcasts. The Ossan Muslims were originally lower-caste Hindus and dalits before they embraced Islam.

The Dalit Pasmanda Collective Justice Project (DPCJP) has joined IMSD in denouncing the discriminatory act by the 'Puthoorpally Muslim Jamaath' mosque. The DPCJP, in solidarity with the Dalit Muslims, demanded that the Kerala government and police take immediate and strong action against those responsible for perpetuating casteist beliefs within the Muslim community. They further warned that if the authorities fail to respond adequately, they would resort to their own measures to seek justice. The IMSD echoed their support for the right to peaceful protest.

IMSD, known for its stance against all forms of caste-based discrimination, highlighted the political ramifications of such actions, particularly in the context of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) efforts to attract Pasmanda Muslims and Muslim women. The organisation called upon all Muslim individuals and organisations to demand an apology from the mosque committee in Changanassery and put an end to the discriminatory practice.

The incident has brought attention to the persisting issue of caste-based discrimination within the Muslim community in South Asia and beyond, despite the absence of any caste system in Islamic teachings. IMSD and the DPCJP's joint condemnation reflects a united front against such practices and an insistence on upholding the principles of equality and justice within the Muslim community. 

Read the full statement below:
July 13, 2023

Press statement 

IMSD condemns caste-based discrimination by a Kerala mosque

Indian Muslims for Secular Democracy (IMSD) is shocked by the decision  of a masjid committee in Kerala asking a Dalit Muslim to stay away from a general meeting on the ground that “traditionally your ancestors were prohibited from attending the general meeting”. There is no concept of caste in the religion of Islam but evidently caste and caste-based discrimination remain part of the shameful reality of lived Islam in South Asia and elsewhere too. 

We stand in solidarity with the Dalit Pasmanda Collective Justice Project (DPCJP) who have condemned such blatant discrimination by the ‘Puthoorpally Muslim Jamaath’ mosque in Changanassery, Kerala.

The DPJC has demanded that the Kerala government and police take “strong action against these hate-mongers who hold casteist/racist beliefs.” Else, “we will take action against them in our own manner.” We support the democratic right to peaceful protest.

In principle, IMSD is opposed to all forms of caste-based discrimination. In the context of Muslims it is also bad politics considering that the ruling-BJP is working overtime in their attempt to woo Pasmanda Muslims and Muslim women to the saffron camp. 

We call upon all Muslim organisations and individuals to demand that the concerned mosque committee in Changanassery apologise to Dalit Muslims and end the discriminatory practice.