Consensus eludes Samastha on stand towards IUML, supreme council to meet again

A meeting of the supreme council (mushawara) of the Sunni scholars’ forum Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama held here on Wednesday failed to reach a consensus on the reported disputes among its members over the organisation’s approach towards the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).

The meeting was held against the backdrop of the bitter arguments and war of words, especially on social media, between the two factions within the organisation, one supporting the IUML and another opposed to it.

The group supporting the IUML had also set up a committee to “protect the ideals of the Samastha”. Both of them had lodged complaints against each other with the Samastha leadership.

Special meeting

Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, the Samastha president, told the media after the meeting that the council would hold a special meeting in another two weeks to discuss the contentious issues.

“The discussions have just begun. They could not be completed. All those issues will be discussed at the special meeting,” he said.

Mr. Muthukoya Thangal also said that the controversial advertisement for Left Democratic Front candidate P. Sarin in the Palakkad Assembly bypoll that appeared in Samastha mouthpiece Suprabhaatham daily too would be taken up there.

It is learnt that the 40-member council could not arrive at a compromise formula between the two factions.

Some members are reported to have questioned the propriety of discussing the complaints lodged with the leadership in the presence of Umar Faizy Mukkam, who is considered to be part of the anti-IUML faction.

One of the complaints is reportedly related to Mr. Mukkam’s remarks raising doubts about the qualifications of Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal, IUML State president, to be a ‘qazi’.

The pro-IUML faction is learnt to be keen on a disciplinary action against Mr. Mukkam.

Denies media reports

Though a section of the media reported that there were heated exchanges between the two groups and Mr. Muthukoya Thangal walked out of the meeting midway, the Samastha general secretary denied them all subsequently.

Meanwhile, Mr. Muthukoya Thangal asserted that the Samastha would not have any ties with the Coordination of Islamic Colleges (CIC), an umbrella body of 60-odd colleges offering Wafi and Wafiya courses by blending Islamic and modern education.

He said that the recent reinstatement of Abdul Hakeem Faizy Adrisseri as its general secretary was against the nine-point formula arrived at during the intermediary talks between the CIC and the Samastha.

The Samastha had earlier locked horns with the CIC, which is led by Mr. Sadikali Thangal, over Mr. Adrissery’s reformist line. The supreme council meeting also sought protection of the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991.

Published - December 11, 2024 07:48 pm IST