New Delhi, Nov 24 (UNI) The Delhi Commission for Women on Thursday issued notice to Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid over recent guidelines imposing restrictions on entry of women and girls alone in Jama Masjid, Delhi.

The Commission took suo motu cognizance on media reports of restriction on entry of women in the mosque. Reportedly, a notice has been placed at the entry of Jama Masjid, Delhi which states, “Jama Masjid me Ladki ya Ladkiyon ka akele dakhla mana hai”. The board prohibits the entry of women and girls in the Masjid who are not with male companions, DCW statement stated.

In her notice, DCW has strongly recommended withdrawal of the ban against women. The Commission has sought the reasons for prohibiting the entry of women and girls ‘without male companions’ in Jama Masjid, the statement stated.

The Commission has also sought details of persons responsible for restricting the entry of women and girls along with a copy of minutes of the meeting, in case the decision was taken in a meeting, it stated.

Further, the Commission has sought the details of steps being taken by authorities now for removing the restriction and ban, it added.

DCW Chief Swati Maliwal said, “Jama Masjid in Delhi is a historical mosque and women have been going there to perform religious practices without any restriction since ages.”

“Preventing women to freely enter and practice their religion in the mosque is highly discriminatory and an extremely regressive practice as a place of worship should be open to everyone, regardless of their gender. Such an order is clearly misogynistic and against the ethos of the Constitution of India. These guidelines must be withdrawn immediately,” said Maliwal.
UNI CM GNK