After Journalist Rajeena Filmmaker Ali Akbar Alleges Sex Abuse at Kerala Madrasa
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Days after a journalist from Kerala VP Rejeena went public with a first-hand account of alleged sexual exploitation of children in Madrasas, filmmaker Ali Akbar has also spoken out about his experience at a madrasa where he has claimed students were abused and assaulted.
Speaking out about his experience at madrasa in Wayanad, the film director alleged that children were sexually abused by the cleric. He added that he was ready to give details about the Ustad.
“That night I was arranging the madrasa when he approached me and he tried to rape me. That incident made me another person. It was 40 years ago but even now same incidents are happening in Madrasas in Kerala,” he said.
Kerala Social Welfare Minister MK Muneer said that he welcomes such exposures and that child abuse doesn’t have any religion. “The aim is to deal with it with an iron hand,” he said.
Muslim Sunni leader from Kerala Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar said that while it may not be possible to monitor what’s happening in thousands of madrassas, any statement like this should only be made with hard evidence and not in the air.
VP Rejeena, a woman journalist working with a Malayalam newspaper in Kozhikode had sparked a uproar and also come under online attack last week following her disclosure about alleged sexual exploitation of children in madrassas.
Ms Rajeena, in her post, narrated how teachers at that madrasa allegedly used to “inappropriately grope” both boys and girls who came for studies.
According to news agency PTI, her post led to a furore and she was flooded with obscene messages and open threats on her profile. Facebook reportedly closed down her account following mass reporting by her critics.
