Canada Global (Web News) Women in modest Islamic dress with covered hair are allowed to offer prayers in mosques all over the world, according to President Dr Arif Alvi, but restrictions are imposed at Islamabad’s Faisal Mosque, where women cannot offer prayers or visit its main hall, despite its religious and touristic value.
According to the president, there is no enclosure for women in the main hall, and those who are ill or elderly must climb stairs to reach the enclosure on the first floor because there is no elevator. Dr. Alvi expressed his concern about women facing restrictions that prevent them from praying.
The president expressed his concerns after reading a special report published on September 14 by a private news channel that highlighted issues pertaining to women and other matters such as the poor state of sanitation and maintenance, as well as the rise in beggary within the mosque’s premises.
Dr. Alvi stated that women should be allowed to pray in the main hall’s enclosure and have access to it. “This is my opinion, based on observations from all over the world, including the Harmain Sharifain.”
The Capital Development Authority (CDA) informed the president’s secretariat in its report that it had begun actions to ensure the cleanliness and maintenance of the mosque, as well as to rid the area of beggars.
As a policy of the Dawah Academy, Islamic University, only one gallery was reserved for ladies, and women were not permitted to enter the mosque’s main hall after its construction.
President Alvi has also requested that the mosque’s administrator discuss and brief him on the aforementioned issues.
