Kozhikode: Muslim bodies back prof, demand case be dropped

KOZHIKODE: Muslim organisations jointly demanded on Friday to withdraw cases against Farook Training College assistant professor Jauhar Munavar, registered by the Koduvally police.  The Police on Thursday had registered a case against Mr Jauhar Munavar for his sexist remarks against girl students who ‘reveal their body like a slice of red watermelon’. 

The Indian Union Muslim League, Samastha Kerala, Jamaat Ulama, Nadvathul Mujahiddeen, Jamaat Islami, Jamiat Ul Ulama, Wisdom Global Islamic Mission and Dakshina Kerala Jamiat Ul Ulama, in a combined statement said that a section of people with vested interests was attempting to show Farook College in poor light. 

“He was speaking at a spiritual venue about the dressing pattern of the Muslim girls and a portion of his speech was taken out to spread allegations against him. The police registering case against him is also not fair,” they stated.

The Popular Front took out a march to the police station in protest against the case. However, Mr Jauhar is not yet arrested, though he was charged with non-bailable sections like IPC 354 A4 (making sexually coloured remarks) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman). Police said that the petitioner did not present evidence against the teacher.

Mr Jauhar, in a family counselling session at Elettil Vattoli in Kozhikode, had said that his Muslim students are not covering chests with hijab but showing it like a ripe piece of watermelon. The video circulated on the social media evoked severe criticism.  It shows the teacher lambasting girls wearing leggings and holding their purdah deliberately up to show them off.

Jauhar had applied for leave till March 28, when his speech invited severe criticism and the students holding protest marches to the college.