Darul Uloom Deoband has clarified that there were no restrictions imposed on women journalists during the visit of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi to the seminary in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur district. The clarification came amid widespread controversy over reports claiming that female journalists were barred from covering the minister’s events in India. The seminary’s spokesperson, Ashraf Usmani, who also served as the media in-charge for the event, dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” asserting that both male and female reporters were permitted to attend. He further explained that seating arrangements were made together for all journalists and that there was no ‘purdah’ or separation at the venue.
The controversy erupted following the absence of women journalists from a press conference held by the Afghan minister in New Delhi a day earlier, which drew criticism from the Opposition and several media bodies, including the Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women Press Corps. They described the exclusion as “discriminatory” and “unacceptable.” However, Usmani clarified that the Darul Uloom event was separately organized and that a few women journalists had indeed been present before the programme was called off due to overcrowding and security concerns. He added that even when the event was cancelled, the media was invited to the guest house for a brief interaction with the minister before his departure for Delhi.
Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani also supported the clarification, stating that the absence of women at the Delhi press conference was merely coincidental and not a deliberate exclusion. He said, “The Afghan Foreign Minister had not refused entry to women. It was wrong and propaganda to claim otherwise.” The seminary emphasized that the situation was misrepresented and reiterated that women reporters were not only allowed but also provided equal access to the event. The clarification aims to put an end to the controversy, which comes amid heightened global scrutiny over women’s rights under Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration.
