Jama Masjid In Delhi Prohibits Entry For Women Visiting Without Men

One of the biggest mosques in India, Delhi’s Jama Masjid's administration has put up notices outside the main gates mentioning that girls and women, whether alone or in groups, are henceforth banned from entering the complex. The notices read, "Entering into the mosque for one girl or girls alone is prohibited."

Girls aren’t allowed inside Jama Masjid alone, anymore. pic.twitter.com/Rkeyij8uZM

— Shashank Shekhar Jha (@shashank_ssj) November 24, 2022

Soon after, the issue led to widespread outrage. Swati Maliwal, the Chairperson for Delhi Commission for Women tweeted in Hindi, "The decision to stop the entry of women in Jama Masjid is absolutely wrong. As much as a man has the right to worship, so also a woman. I am issuing notice to the Imam of Jama Masjid. No one has the right to ban the entry of women like this."

जामा मस्जिद में महिलाओं की एंट्री रोकने का फ़ैसला बिलकुल ग़लत है। जितना हक एक पुरुष को इबादत का है उतना ही एक महिला को भी। मैं जामा मस्जिद के इमाम को नोटिस जारी कर रही हूँ। इस तरह महिलाओं की एंट्री बैन करने का अधिकार किसी को नहीं है।

— Swati Maliwal (@SwatiJaiHind) November 24, 2022

After the massive outrage, Jama Masjid PRO Sabiullah Khan told reporters, “There is no restriction on the entry of women. The restriction is for women who come here alone, give time to men, do wrong things, and make videos. Right now, there are several women here. If you come with family, there is no ban, if you are a married couple, there is no ban. But making this a meeting point, treating it like a park, dancing, and making TikTok videos are not acceptable in any place of worship, be it a temple, a masjid, or a gurdwara. Our aim behind the ban is that the masjid is used only as a place of worship,” Indian Express reported. And by this same reasoning, single men or men who come in groups, to do the same things should be banned from the mosque’s premises as well.

Reacting to the news report, actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar tweeted, "I am very sure even men come alone, indulge in improper acts more than a woman does,takes pics n selfies, shoot videos & so on. So why no ban on them?? Why only women are looked upon as troubleshooters & species? Why this misogyny & rules only for women? Heights of hypocrisy."

I am very sure even men come alone,indulge in improper acts more than a woman does,takes pics n selfies,shoot videos & so on. So why no ban on them?? Why only women are looked upon as trouble shooters & species? Why this misogyny & rules only for women? Heights of hypocrisy. https://t.co/LbvAu2TtK6

— KhushbuSundar (@khushsundar) November 24, 2022

Jama Masjid

Jama Masjid is the largest mosque in India. It was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan during 1650-1656. It has a courtyard capable of holding around 25,000 devotees.

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