Clarification from Darul Uloom Deoband Stirs Conversation on Media Access
The Darul Uloom Deoband, a leading Islamic seminary in Saharanpur, has publicly said there were no directives restricting the attendance of women journalists at the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The statement comes amid a broader debate over media access during high-profile diplomatic events involving Afghanistan’s Taliban-led administration and questions of media inclusivity.
According to Ashraf Usmani, the seminary’s PRO and media in-charge for Muttaqi’s Saturday programme, there were no orders limiting journalist attendance. Usmani told PTI that the Afghan Foreign Minister’s office did not issue restrictions on who would attend the event. He also dismissed reports that women were kept away as baseless.
The clarification follows a public uproar after reports that a Friday press conference with the Afghan minister in New Delhi did not include women journalists. Critics, including the Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women’s Press Corps (IWPC), described the omission as discriminatory and unacceptable even when considering diplomatic privilege under international conventions such as the Vienna Convention.
Usmani explained that the public event at the seminary was scheduled for Saturday but was cancelled at the last moment due to overcrowding and security concerns. He stressed that the presence of a few women journalists at the morning session helped counter claims that women were barred from coverage.
“There were no directives from anywhere on the attendance of women journalists. But the programme got called off at the last moment,” Usmani said. He noted that the event’s seating arrangements included women reporters alongside their male peers and that there was no ‘purdah’ barrier at the venue. He added that the crowd’s unexpected size necessitated last-minute changes.
Usmani also recounted that media representatives were invited to a quick interaction with Muttaqi at the guest house after the local administration cancelled the formal programme. He framed this as an opportunity to engage with journalists despite the logistical hiccup during the planned event.
The debate over Friday’s press conference also drew comments from other Muslim scholars. Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, suggested that the focus should be on the fact that women’s presence wasn’t explicitly prohibited. He asserted that it was a coincidence the day’s media turnout skewed male and argued there was no official policy barring women from attending, describing the narrative as propaganda.
Context: Media Access and Diplomatic Protocol
The controversy touches on larger questions about media access to diplomatic events involving Afghanistan’s government, particularly in the context of Taliban rule and rising scrutiny of women’s rights. While some officials argue that seating arrangements and security considerations can influence attendance, media watchdog groups have called for consistent access that avoids gender-based discrimination.
Observers note that while diplomats sometimes rely on privileges and safety protocols to manage events, excluding or limiting journalists on grounds of gender can undermine credible reporting and public trust. The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations often informs views on diplomatic privileges; critics say that access should not be used to justify discriminatory practices.
As Muttaqi’s visit to Deoband concluded with the later brief interaction at the guest house, the broader discourse around press freedom and gender inclusion remains a talking point for Indian media groups and international observers alike. The seminary’s clarification may help calm some misinformation, but questions about equal access to important diplomatic events are likely to persist in future reporting.
