Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi, Nov 24: Notices prohibiting the entry of girls, whether coming alone or in groups, have been posted outside the main gates of Delhi’s renowned Jama Masjid by its administration. However, the Shahi Imam intervened to clarify that the rule does not apply to people who are coming to give prayers as the situation caused uproar in some places.
According to sources, the warnings, which bear no date, appeared a few days ago outside the three main entry gates. However, nobody was aware of it until recently.
“Jama Masjid mein ladki ya ladkiyon ka akele daakhla mana hai (The entry of a girl, or girls is not permitted in Jama Masjid),” reads the notice by the administration.
Swati Maliwal, Chairperson, Delhi Commission for Women issues notice to the Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid, Delhi taking cognizance of the recent restriction on entry of women coming alone or in a group in Jama Masjid pic.twitter.com/0I84zW1NQ0
— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2022
Swati Maliwal, the head of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), referred to it as a breach of women’s rights and said that she was sending a notice.
“It is completely wrong to ban the entry of women in Jama Masjid. The kind of rights a man has to praying, women also have the same rights. I am issuing a notice to imam of Jama Masjid. Nobody has the right to ban entry of women in this way,” she said on Twitter.
Maliwal also issued a notice to the Shahi Imam after taking suo moto cognizance of the incident and asked for a clarification till Nov 28.
The decision was made after some “incidents” were reportedly recorded on the grounds of the historic building, according to Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the Shahi Imam.
“Jama Masjid is a place of worship and people are welcome for that. But girls coming alone and waiting for their dates… this is not what this place is meant for. The restriction is on that,” Bukhari told PTI.
“Any such place, be it a mosque, temple or gurudwara is a place of worship (ibadat ki jagah hai) and there is no restriction on anyone coming for that purpose. Just today, a group of 20-25 girls visited and they were allowed to enter,” Bukhari added.
