View source for M. K. Muneer

{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2013}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name         = Dr.  M. K. Muneer
|image        = MK_Muneer.jpg
|birth_date   = {{birth date and age|1962|08|26|df=y}}
|birth_place  = [[Kozhikode]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
|residence    = [[Kozhikode]]
|nationality  = {{Flag icon|India}} [[India]]n
|death_date   =
|death_place  =
|education    = [[Government Medical College, Kozhikode]]
|office       = [[Second Chandy ministry|Minister for Social Welfare and Panchayath Affairs]],<br>[[Government of Kerala]]
|term_start   = 23 May 2011
|term_end     = 20 May 2016
|predecessor  = [[Paloli Mohammed Kutty]] 
|successor    = [[K. T. Jaleel]]
|office2      = [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly|Deputy Leader of Opposition]] in [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
|term_start2   =  22 April 2017
|term_end2 = 7 May 2021
|leader2=[[Ramesh Chennithala]]
|predecessor2 =[[P. K. Kunhalikutty]]
|successor2  = [[P. K. Kunhalikutty]]
|office3=[[Kerala Legislative Assembly|Member of Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
|term_start3=24 May 2021
|predecessor3 = [[Karat Razak]]
|constituency3=[[Koduvally (State Assembly constituency)|Koduvally]]
|term_start4=1 June 2011
|term_end4=3 May 2021
|predecessor4=''constituency created''
|successor4=[[Ahamed Devarkovil]]
|constituency4=[[Kozhikode South (State Assembly constituency)|Kozhikode South]]
|term_start5=1996
|term_end5=2006
|predecessor5= Younus Kunhu
|successor5=[[M. Ummer]]
|constituency5=[[Malappuram (State Assembly constituency)|Malappuram]]
|office6=[[Third Antony ministry|Minister For Public Works Department]],<br>[[Government of Kerala]]
|term_start6= 26 May 2001
|term_end6 =  12 May 2006
|predecessor6=[[P. J. Joseph]]
|successor6= [[P. J. Joseph]]
|party        = [[Indian Union Muslim League]]
|spouse       = Nafeesa Vineetha
|children     = Two sons and one daughter
|website      = 
|footnotes    = 
|date         = 
|year         = 
|source       = }}

'''M. K. Muneer''' is an Indian politician, [[physician]], social worker, singer, poet and author from [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/news.php?id=564415&u=criticised-for-supporting-homosexuality-muneer-withdraws-post-congratulating-lgbt-community | title=Criticised for supporting homosexuality; Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/mk-muneer-s-weird-argument-on-gender-neutrality-triggers-row-1.7795773 | title=MK Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row }}</ref> He was the Minister for Social Welfare and [[Panchayati raj|Panchayat]] in the last (May 2011 – May 2016) UDF Ministry, headed by [[Oommen Chandy]] and represented the Kozhikode South constituency in the legislative assembly. He was also the Minister for Public Works in [[A K Antony Ministry 3]].<ref name="keralatv">{{cite web|url=http://www.keralatv.in/2010/05/dr-m-k-muneer-to-host-amrita-tv%E2%80%99s-sangeetha-samagamam/ |title=Dr. M.K. Muneer To Host Amrita TV's Sangeetha Samagamam &#124; Kerala Television |publisher=Keralatv.in |date=2010-08-01 |access-date=2011-07-01}}</ref> Muneer is a State secretary of the [[Indian Union Muslim League]] and<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032953940500.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108033013/http://www.hindu.com/2009/03/29/stories/2009032953940500.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-11-08 |title=Kerala / Kannur News : 'CPI(M) pursuing dangerous politics' |date=2009-03-29 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=2011-07-01}}</ref> was the Chairman of the Malayalam TV channel [[Indiavision]]. He has written [[ghazal]]s and books including ''Fascism and the Sangh Parivar''.<ref>{{cite web|author=Irfan |url=http://www.sabrang.com/cc/archive/2008/april08/cover4.html |title=CC April 2008 |publisher=Sabrang.com |date=2007-09-21 |access-date=2011-07-01}}</ref> He is a qualified medical doctor and patron of MCC-THAS-Haemophilia Society.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pedblood.org/whoiswho.html |title=&#124; MCC-THAS-Hemophilia Society &#124; |publisher=Pedblood.org |access-date=2011-07-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727170404/http://www.pedblood.org/whoiswho.html |archive-date=27 July 2011 }}</ref>

Muneer is the only son amongst the three children of [[C. H. Mohammed Koya]],<ref name="keralatv" /> veteran Muslim League politician and former [[Chief Minister of Kerala]] and Amina. In March 2017 he was elected as deputy opposition leader in Kerala Legislative Assembly. He did his MBBS in a private medical college in Karnataka.<ref name="deshabhimani.com">{{Cite web|title=മുഖം രക്ഷിയ്ക്കാന്‍ പുതിയ വാദവുമായി കെ എം ഷാജി: വെട്ടിലായത് കൂടെയിരുന്ന എം കെ മുനീര്‍|url=https://www.deshabhimani.com/special/k-m-shaji-s-defense-lands-m-k-muneer-in-trouble/866253|access-date=2020-06-12|website=Deshabhimani|language=ml}}</ref> With a special order by the Government of Kerala post his father's death, he was allowed a transfer to [[Government Medical College, Kozhikode]] and eventually completed his course from there.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|author=Web Desk|title=കള്ളം പറയലാണോ രാഷ്ട്രീയം? അതും ഈ മരണകാലത്ത്? എ.എ റഹിം|url=https://www.mediaonetv.in/kerala/2020/04/16/a-a-rahm-against-k-m-shaji-and-m-k-muneer|access-date=2020-06-12|website=MediaOne News {{!}} Latest Malayalam News from MediaOne Tv|language=ml}}</ref>  This became a controversy after he questioned the state aid given to a leader from Nationalist Congress Party.<ref name="deshabhimani.com"/>

==Minister in different ministries==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No. !! Head of the Ministry !! Period !! Portfolio
|-
| 1 || [[A. K. Antony]] || 2001-04 || public work dept
|-
| 2 ||[[Oommen Chandy]] || 2004-06 || public work dept
|-
| 3 || Oommen Chandy || 2011-16|| panchyath, social welfare
|}

==Kerala Legislative Assembly election, 2021==
In the 2021 Kerala Legislative Assembly election, he contested from Koduvally. He defeated Karat Razack by a margin of 6344	 votes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://results.eci.gov.in/Result2021/ConstituencywiseS1131.htm?ac=31|title=2021 Koduvally Constituency Assembly Election Results|website=Election commission of India}}</ref> 
{{Election box begin | title=[[2016 Kerala Legislative Assembly election]]: Kozhikode South}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Indian Union Muslim League
  |candidate  = M. K. Muneer
  |votes      = 49,863
  |percentage = 43.13%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Indian National League
  |candidate  = A. P. Abdul Vahab
  |votes      = 43,536
  |percentage = 37.66%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Bharath Dharma Jana Sena
  |candidate  = Satheesh Kuttiyil
  |votes      = 19,146
  |percentage = 16.56%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = None of the above
  |candidate  = None of the above
  |votes      = 788
  |percentage = 0.68%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Social Democratic Party of India
  |candidate  = U. K. Deysi Balasubrahmanyan
  |votes      = 593
  |percentage = 0.51%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Bahujan Samaj Party
  |candidate  = Kamala Pavithran
  |votes      = 480
  |percentage = 0.42%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = A. P. Abdul Vahab
  |votes      = 287
  |percentage = 0.25%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = A. K. Sajan
  |votes      = 227
  |percentage = 0.20%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Abdul Sathar
  |votes      = 211
  |percentage = 0.18%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Muneer Davari
  |votes      = 190
  |percentage = 0.16%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Premanand T.
  |votes      = 166
  |percentage = 0.14%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Abdul Muneer
  |votes      = 130
  |percentage = 0.11%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box margin of victory|
   |votes      = 6,327
   |percentage = 5.47%
   |change     =
}}
{{Election box turnout|
   |votes      = 1,15,617
   |percentage = 77.57%
   |change     =
 }}
{{Election box hold with party link|
   |winner     = Indian Union Muslim League
   |loser      = Indian National League
   |swing      =
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Controversies==
Muneer put a pro-LGBTQ post in Facebook during the [[pride month]] in 2021, only to be withdrawn later following severe criticism from party members.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://keralakaumudi.com/en/news/mobile/news.php?id=564415&u=criticised-for-supporting-homosexuality-muneer-withdraws-post-congratulating-lgbt-community|title=Criticised for supporting homosexuality; M K Muneer withdraws post congratulating LGBT community|website=Kerala Kaumudi}}</ref> Once popular as the progressive face of IUML, Muneer later became a staunch supporter of patriarchal and conservative form of Islam.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/opinions/editorials/2022/aug/06/iumls-new-voice-of-conservativism-2484655.html|title=IUML's new voice of conservatism|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> His strange argument that gender neutrality will make [[POCSO]] Act redundant stirred up a massive political controversy.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/aug/19/gender-neutrality-will-render-pocso-act-redundant-mk-muneer-2488984.html|title=Gender neutrality will render POCSO Act redundant: M. K. Muneer|website=New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/mk-muneer-s-weird-argument-on-gender-neutrality-triggers-row-1.7795773|title=M K Muneer's weird argument on gender neutrality triggers row|website=Mathrubhumi}}</ref> More recently, he is known for delivering negative speeches against the LGBT+ community including a controversial article published in [[Suprabhatam]] daily where he accused homosexuals of being violent and demanding rights for child sex abuse.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mediaoneonline.com/kerala/gender-neutrality-politics-mk-munir-said-that-he-will-stand-with-morality-188799|title=Gender neutrality: M. K. Muneer said that he will stand with morality|website=Media One}}</ref> Despite being a former Minister who implemented transgender policy in Kerala; for the first time in an Indian state, Muneer stirred controversy by questioning the gender of the first trans man in India who gave birth to a baby.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/kerala-becomes-first-state-to-introduce-policy-for-transgenders-1243420|title=Kerala becomes first state to introduce policy for transgenders|website=NDTV}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/iuml-leder-s-transphbic-remark-and-political-campaign-against-lgbtqia-persons-173198|title=IUML leader MK Muneer makes hate comment on Kerala trans man who gave birth|website=The News Minute}}</ref>

He also described the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|7 October attacks]] by [[Hamas]] as "resistance" at an IUML rally after [[Shashi Tharoor]] called it "terrorist act".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/at-iuml-rally-tharoor-calls-hamas-action-terrorist-attack-later-mk-muneer-terms-it-resistance-1.9017946|title=At IUML rally, Shashi Tharoor calls Hamas action 'terrorist attack', MK Muneer terms it 'resistance'|website=Mathrubhumi English}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|M. K. Muneer}}

{{Oommen Chandy Cabinet 2011}}
{{United Democratic Front (Kerala)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muneer, M}}
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kozhikode]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian medical doctors]]
[[Category:1962 births]]
[[Category:Indian Union Muslim League politicians]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 2016–2021]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 2011–2016]]
[[Category:Medical doctors from Kerala]]
[[Category:Ministers for Public Works of Kerala]]