‘Galat harkatey kartey hai’: Delhi’s historic Jama Masjid bans entry of unescorted women

Mosque administration said single girls ‘use’ the premises as a meeting point, ‘they think of it as a park, make TikTok videos and dance’.

A file photo of Jama Masjid in Delhi | Suraj Singh Bisht | ThePrint

New Delhi: Delhi’s historic Jama Masjid has banned the entry of girls and women who come unescorted to the mosque, whether single or in a group.

The mosque’s public relations officer Sabiullah Khan said there was no restriction on women coming with families, or with their husbands.

Khan elaborated: “There is no ban on women, per se. But when women come alone, they give time to boys… Yaha aakey galat harkatey hoti hai, video pe video bana jaati hai, sirf uss cheej ko rokne ke liye, iss pe pabandi lagai gayi hai (We have stopped their entry to stop wrong activities, like shooting videos etc).”

Khan said women coming with families or with their husbands were most welcome. “But you cannot make the masjid a meeting point with boys, or think of this as a park, make TikTok videos and dance,” Khan said.

He added this was not acceptable to any religious place whether a mosque, temple or a gurdwara. Protocol in a religious place should be maintained, he added.

“We have restricted single women because of this. A masjid is for ‘ibadat’ or prayer,” Khan said.

#WATCH| Delhi|Women's entry not banned. When women come alone-improper acts done, videos shot,ban is to stop this. No restrictions on families/married couples.Making it a meeting point inapt for religious places:Sabiullah Khan,Jama Masjid PRO on entry of women coming alone banned pic.twitter.com/HiOebKaiGr

— ANI (@ANI) November 24, 2022

Reports said that signs have also been placed outside the mosque which proclaim the new diktat – no unescorted women allowed inside.

Swati Maliwal, chairperson of Delhi Commission for Women, called this decision shameful and unconstitutional. In a tweet, she said: “Do they think this is Iran and not India? And that nobody will say anything if you discriminate against women? A woman has the same right to pray as a man.”

Maliwal said the commission has issued a notice to the mosque authorities for this “Talibani act”. “We shall remove this ban at all cost,” she added.

#SwatiMaliwal after #Jamamasjid administration bans women entry into the mosque.@SwatiJaiHind @DCWDelhi pic.twitter.com/ldrGDP3KQi

— IANS (@ians_india) November 24, 2022