Shabnam Noorjahan, a 39-year-old assistant zoology professor at Farook College, organised Noor-e-Rumi, a women’s programme on Rumi, Sufism and spirituality. Salafi preacher Haneef Kayakkodi accused it of misleading Muslim girls, prompting social media attacks. Shabnam rejects clerical orthodoxy, defends Sufism’s inclusive spiritual core, and links criticisms to women’s education, social media and conservative influences.
