The Kanthapuram Sunni faction called off protests against the reconstruction of the Kerala Waqf Board

General Education and Minority Welfare Minister N. Samsudheen met Kanthapuram Sunni leader AP Aboobacker Musliar in Kozhikode on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. Photo Credit: Special Event

The Kerala Muslim Jamaat, backed by the Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliar faction of the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama Sunni Scholars Forum, has called off its protests scheduled for October 22 against its lack of representation in the recently reconstituted State Waqf Board.

A brief press release issued by the Kerala Muslim Jamaat secretary on Tuesday (October 20, 2026) evening said this followed assurances the organization had received from the state government. Earlier in the day, General Education and Minority Welfare Minister N. Samsudheen visited the Kanthapuram faction headquarters at Karanthur in Kozhikode and held talks with its leaders, including Mr. Musliar.

The minister later told the media that the concerns of the Sunni faction led by Mr Musliar related to the lack of representation on the Waqf board would be addressed. “They will have a nominee on the board. During the reconstitution, we had to consider the representation of different categories, which led to the current problem. The government did not deliberately try to exclude anyone,” he said. However, Mr. Samsudheen did not elaborate on how the representation would be provided, adding that negotiations would be held for this purpose.

The Kanthapuram faction’s disappointment deepened when its leaders boycotted a meeting of the Muslim Coordination Committee, a confederation of Muslim organizations in Kerala, held in Kozhikode on 19 October. Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) State President Panakkad Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal presided over the meeting. After the meeting, IUML leader and Industries Minister PK Kunhalikutty said talks are underway with leaders of the Kanthapuram faction to resolve the issue.

On October 17, Jamaat Muslim leaders called for protests, saying the reconstitution of the board was against the promises made to them by Chief Minister VD Satheesan. They also alleged that justice was denied to their Sunni faction, which manages a significant portion of Waqf properties across Kerala. The plan was to organize protest demonstrations in all districts on October 22.

Published – 20 Oct 2026 21:12 IST