Deoband Denies Any Ban on Women Journalists During Afghan Foreign Minister’s Visit Amid Delhi Press Controversy
Saharanpur/New Delhi, October 12, 2025:
Amid growing outrage over the exclusion of women journalists from a press conference by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in New Delhi, the Darul Uloom Deoband on Saturday clarified that no restrictions were imposed on female reporters during his visit to the seminary.
Ashraf Usmani, media in-charge of the programme and spokesperson for Darul Uloom Deoband, said, “There were no directives from the Afghan Foreign Minister’s office about who would attend the event. The programme was called off at the last moment due to overcrowding and security reasons.”
He added that a few women journalists were present for the planned event, dismissing reports that they were kept away. “Women reporters were allowed to cover it, and their seating was arranged along with their male counterparts. There was no ‘purdah’ or curtain at the venue,” he clarified.
The public event at the seminary, part of the Afghan minister’s India visit, was cancelled after an unexpected rush of media and visitors led to security concerns. “When the administration announced the cancellation, we invited the media, including women reporters, to the guest house for a brief interaction before Mr. Muttaqi left for Delhi,” Usmani said.
Meanwhile, Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamaat Ulama-e-Hind, downplayed the controversy, saying, “It was just a coincidence that yesterday’s press conference in Delhi was attended only by men. The Afghan minister had not said no to women journalists. Such claims are wrong and part of unnecessary propaganda.”
The row erupted on Friday when several women journalists and foreign media representatives were reportedly denied entry to a press event organised by the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, which was attended only by male reporters. The incident sparked condemnation from journalist bodies and political leaders who called it discriminatory and unacceptable.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs clarified that it had “no involvement” in the embassy-organised press interaction. However, opposition leaders criticised the government for remaining silent on the matter. Rahul Gandhi said, “By allowing this event, the Prime Minister is telling every woman in India that he will not stand up for them.” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra demanded an explanation from the government, calling the incident “an insult to some of India’s most competent women.”
A source within the Taliban government later admitted that “female journalists were excluded due to lack of proper coordination” and said they “will be invited to the next conference if held in Delhi.”
Mr. Muttaqi is in India for a week-long series of diplomatic engagements and meetings with senior Indian officials. On Friday, he met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, during which India announced plans to reopen its embassy in Kabul.
The controversy comes amid ongoing criticism of the Taliban for curbing women’s rights and restricting their participation in public life since returning to power in 2021, making the Delhi incident especially sensitive and symbolic.