Reels without veil spark crackdown: Darul Uloom Deoband bans women’s entry again; seminary says visits distract students

AGRA: Darul Uloom Deoband has reinstated a ban on women entering its campus, citing repeated violations of social-media-related guidelines, the seminary's management said on Wednesday.

Last Nov, the institution had lifted an earlier restriction and allowed conditional entry, but the rules were "flouted by visitors who filmed and posted videos online".Management sources said the rising number of women visitors had started affecting students' concentration and triggered multiple complaints. Officials noted that several women visitors had filmed and circulated reels from within the seminary, often without wearing veils, which was considered disrespectful and disruptive to students' academic focus.

As a result, a public notice at the main gate now prohibits photography, videography or carrying mobile phones, bans the use of gutkha or tobacco, forbids touching plants, and requires all visitors to leave before sunset.Maulana Mufti Rehan Qasmi, in charge of the vice chancellor's office, said, "On May 17 last year, the institution banned women's entry after complaints about reels being filmed on campus. In Nov, we lifted the ban with strict conditions-women had to wear veils, be accompanied by a guardian, deposit mobile phones, and obtain two-hour visitor passes. However, several conditions were repeatedly breached." He added that the new ban was imposed on Tuesday.