Factionalism within the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama, the biggest body of traditional Islamic scholars in Kerala, is deepening over its relations with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Scholars within the Samastha are divided over its affiliation to the IUML. While a section wants the IUML to be treated like any other political party, another favours the IUML as the Muslim community’s political party with few alternatives.
The anti-IUML section, known as the Shajara group, has released a poster on social media accusing a dozen-odd Sunni leaders of betraying the interests of the Samastha by aligning themselves with the IUML. Those featured in the poster are Moideen Faizy Puthanazhi, Kutty Hassan Darimi, Abdurahman Kallayi, K.A. Rahman Faizy, Abdussamad Pookkottur, Mayin Haji, Onampalli Mohammed Faizy, Nasar Faizy Koodathayi, Jabbar Haji, U. Mohammed Shafi Haji, Aboobacker Faizy Malayamma, and Saleem Edakkara. The poster was the latest in a series of social media battles between the two groups.
First split
It was over the issue of subservience to the IUML that the Samastha witnessed its first split in 1989 after its formation in 1926. Kerala Muslim Jamat president Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar broke away from the Samastha along with a group of scholars in 1989 refusing to agree to the supremacy of the Muslim League, and formed a body of their own.
The same issue has resurfaced in the Samastha with the two sections working hard to outsmart each other. The Shajara group worked against the Muslim League during the general elections in April and the recent byelections, but with little success.
LDF advertisement
An advertisement by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) on the front page of Samastha mouthpiece Suprabhatham on the eve of the Palakkad byelection was viewed as an indirect attack on the IUML. Samastha president Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal’s justification of the advertisement saying that anyone could advertise on their newspaper substantiated the group’s attitude towards the IUML.
When IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty said that he would deal with the issue of Suprabhatham carrying the LDF’s “incendiary advertisement” after the elections, there was a veiled threat in his words. The IUML appears to be hardening its stand towards the Samastha.
In the ongoing power struggle between the IUML and the Samastha, and the veiled one between their presidents Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal and Syed Jifri Muthukoya Thangal, the latter seems to be losing traction.
Published – December 03, 2024 08:52 pm IST
