In an unprecedented step, Jama Masjid Mosque Management Committee banned the entry of a lone woman or a group of women into the mosque complex on Thursday. The announcement underlines that in order for women to gain access to the Jama Masjid complex, they need to be accompanied by a male member of their family.
The Jama Masjid administration has placed sign boards outside the mosque that reads in Hindi, “Entering into the mosque for one girl or girls alone is prohibited”. The sign boards have been installed outside each of the mosque’s three entrances.
The Chairperson for Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal, said she will issue a notice to the Jama Masjid administration over the issue and added that no one has the right to issue such a ban.
Meanwhile, Sabiullah Khan, the Public Relations Officer for Jama Masjid upheld the move, announcing the ban is to prevent women shooting videos for social media as it offends the people who are there to offer namaaz. “No restrictions on families or married couples,” he said.