Sun Oct 12 02:36:04 UTC 2025: **The Hindu News Article:**

**Darul Uloom Deoband Denies Barring Women Journalists from Afghan Minister’s Visit**

**Lucknow/Saharanpur, October 12, 2025:** The Darul Uloom Deoband, a prominent Islamic seminary, has refuted allegations that it imposed restrictions on women journalists covering the visit of Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi. The denial comes amidst a growing controversy surrounding the absence of female reporters at Mr. Muttaqi’s press conference in New Delhi on Friday.

Ashraf Usmani, Deoband PRO and media in-charge for Mr. Muttaqi’s program, dismissed claims of a ban as “baseless,” stating that neither the seminary nor the Afghan Minister’s office issued any directives regarding the attendance of women journalists. The program, which was ultimately canceled due to overcrowding and security concerns, was organized by the Darul Uloom Deoband, Usmani confirmed.

The previous day’s press conference, attended only by male journalists, sparked outrage from the Opposition and media organizations like the Editors Guild of India and the Indian Women Press Corps (IWPC), who deemed the exclusion discriminatory.

Usmani asserted that the presence of women journalists at the Deoband venue, before the event’s cancellation, proved the seminary did not exclude them. He also confirmed arrangements were made for women reporters to sit alongside their male counterparts, with no ‘purdah’ or curtain present.

Maulana Arshad Madani, president of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind, echoed Usmani’s sentiment, labeling the exclusion of women from Friday’s press conference a “coincidence” and “propaganda,” insisting that the Afghan Foreign Minister did not object to their presence.

The controversy unfolds against a backdrop of criticism regarding the Taliban’s denial of women’s rights in Afghanistan. The incident highlights the ongoing complexities of diplomatic engagements and media access in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape.

Read More