National-award winning filmmaker says he was sexually abused at Kerala Madrasa

New Delhi, Dec 1: Days after Kerala-based woman journalist claimed to have witnessed sexual exploitations in madrasas during her childhood, a Malayalam film director has made shocking revelations.

National-award winning filmmaker Ali Akbar said that he has been a victim of child abuse at a State madrasa. Akbar refuted claim made by Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram Aboobacker Musliyar that Kerala madrasas were free from sexual abuse.

"I was abused by an ustad (madrasa teacher) when I was eight-year-old," the Malayalam director, who bagged the national award for his non-feature film 'Rabia Chalikkunnu' in 1996, Akbar said.

Narrating the agony, filmmaker further said, "The incident happened at a madrasa in my native place Meenangadi in Wayanad. I managed to escape from my molester after a fight".

A number of fellow mates at the madrasa also went through such harassments, he claimed. But no children, including him, dared to reveal those things to parents at that time as the 'ustads' were treated with great respect in traditional Muslim families, he said.

Akbar, also a recipient of Kerala government's award for debutant filmmaker, said he decided to reveal these things now in the wake of online attacks against journalist V P Rajeena following her disclosure about sexual exploitation of children in madrasas. Rajeena had incurred wrath of the members of her community after she went public on Facebook last week about the happenings in madrasas.

"I hope that my revelations will give confidence at least to one child to stand up and say no to these kinds of exploitations at madrasas," Akbar said. Akbar has directed over 20 Malayalam movies, including hits like 'Junior Mandrake' and 'Pai Brothers'.

(With inputs from PTI )