An old video clip of radical Islamic cleric Mujahid Balussery has resurfaced amid a series of recent remarks by Islamic scholars and clerics on restrictions on women and their presence in public spaces.
In the video, Balussery makes a series of remarks targeting women who wear lipstick, makeup, kajal and flowers in their hair. He goes on to equate women wearing such cosmetics with prostitutes, including an 11-year-old girl.
“I say this to women specifically. You are applying lipstick even for little kids. Allah says those who do that are prostitutes/whore. Who are they? You do not need to go to brothels. If you go with your father with lipstick on your lips, even if you are 11 years old girl, you are a prostitute/whore,” Balussery says in the video.
“I am not saying this. Nabi himself said it.”
Questioning why women should use lipstick, he says, “Why do you need lipsticks? Why do you need to colour the lips given by Allah? Why did you make it red? Those are red lips. For whom to see?”
Balussery then compares women wearing makeup and other forms of adornment to prostitutes.
“For the people of the land to see. For the people of the land, for such work prostitutes/whores are there. You can see them in Bombay. Why are they on the streets, why do they wear kajal? Why do they wear makeup? Why do they keep flowers on their hair? To attract a customer. Are you like that? You are not like that. Then why are you doing that?”
He attributes women’s use of cosmetics to what he describes as the influence of the devil.
“The devil has taken over, the devil has hypnotised the mind. Allah gave such a beautiful face and such beautiful lips. But you cover that with makeup and lipstick.”
Another gem from a Kerala Islamic preacher quoting Nabi: If your child wears makeup or lipstick, she is a prostitute. No age bar. This is the religious poison they inject. pic.twitter.com/WQ1zGvKeFB
— Rocket Scientist 🇮🇳 (@Rockumon) September 1, 2026
The resurfacing of the clip comes against the backdrop of recent remarks by the Grand Mufti of India and Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama general secretary Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, who doubled down on his position that women should remain confined to their homes and should not be present on public religious platforms.
At a recent programme, Kanthapuram said women should remain within their homes, reiterating an earlier position that had triggered criticism.
Another recent video also drew attention after Islamic scholar Abdul Hakim Ansari said that having three children would earn a person a “ticket to heaven” at an event where Kanthapuram spoke about confining women to their homes.
While the Mujahid Balussery video is an old clipping, its resurfacing has drawn attention because of the wider debate over Islamic religious prescriptions governing women’s appearance, mobility and participation in public life.
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