After 6 months: The Deoband Seminary lifts the ban on female visitors and imposes conditions

Prominent Islamic seminary Darul Uloom Deoband has resumed conditional entry of women into its premises, albeit in purdah (veil), six months after they were banned on grounds that women had uploaded images of their visit to social media , which discredited the seminary’s reputation. the institution.

Seminary spokesman Ashraf Usmani said on Saturday that the ban on women and girls from entering has been lifted, but they must follow a number of rules to ensure their access to the seminary building.

Usmani said the ban was lifted on Friday. Permission for women to move around the facility has been given with a visitor’s pass and other conditions, he said, adding that the rules have been framed after much deliberation.

Under these rules, female visitors are now issued a visitor pass, which is only valid for two hours. It is issued after submitting the PAN card, Aadhar card or voter ID at the designated office.

Details of the visitor’s name, mobile phone number, address and number of visiting members (male, female) must be recorded in a register.

Women are only allowed to enter in purdah (veil) and with the mahram (husband, guardian or other family member who does not need to be in purdah). There will be a ban on consuming food while in the institution building. They are not allowed to carry a camera or shoot reels in the premises.

Darul Uloom authorities had banned women from entering the seminary building on May 17 this year.

At the time, it was said that women uploaded images of their visit to social media, bringing discredit to the seminary. Moreover, it has consequences for students’ studies.

The ban had disappointed hundreds of women who visited Deoband for a glimpse of the seminary and the Rashidiya Mosque.

The declining influx of female visitors also had a negative effect on the business of retailers around the seminary.