J&K: Jamia Masjid Prohibits Photography, Men And Women From Sitting Together Inside Premises

The management of the 14th-century mosque asked its security staff to carry out the instructions quickly. Women may enter a mosque if a separate area is set aside, as per the notice by the mosque.

A general view of the Jamia Masjid in the middle of the Old City located Kashmir region in Srinagar, India (File Photo)

The management of the ancient Jamia Masjid here has issued a notification forbidding photography inside the mosque and requesting men and women to not sit together on its lawns, news agency PTI reported on Friday citing the notice. 

The entry of photography equipment is also restricted, according to a notice posted around the mosque compound by the Anjuman Auquaf Central Jamia Masjid.

"Photographers or camera persons are prohibited to take any kind of photos or clicks inside the mosque. Even equipment used to click any kind of photo are totally disallowed and need to be stopped at the gate forthwith," it read, PTI reported. 

It also prohibited the carrying of eatables into the mosque premises.

"Nobody is allowed to have lunch or any kind of eatables inside the mosque. As such, visitors need to be stopped at the gate itself," the notification read, according to PTI. 

The management of the 14th-century mosque asked its security personnel to quickly carry out the instructions.

Women may enter a mosque if there is a separate area set aside for them.

Earlier in the month of November, the historic Jama Masjid in New Delhi took an unprecedented move to exclude girls from entering.

According to media reports, the Jama Masjid management issued an order preventing solitary or group of girls from entering the mosque.

According to reports, the Jama Masjid administration has also posted signs outside the mosque notifying tourists that girls are not welcome inside. The sign boards are located outside the mosque's three entrances. The sign boards state, "It is illegal for girls/women to enter Jama Masjid alone," according to a Hindi newspaper.

Females, however, will be permitted to enter the Mosque with their husbands or families, according to the masjid administration. After the order was issued, some took offence and even chastised the administration for its edict, terming it as a "fundamentalist mentality."

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has criticised the decree, calling it "anti-women." It also encouraged the Women and Child Development Ministry and the National Women Commission to act in the case.

It should be noted that the famous Jama Masjid was built between 1644 and 1656 by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. Aurangzeb, widely regarded as the last effective Mughal emperor, reigned for over 49 years until his death in 1707.

(With Inputs From Agencies)