Dargah official suspended for banning women

S F Hassan, a khadim (traditional server) in Ajmer's Moinuddin Chisti shrine, has been suspended for a month for banning women from the dargah at the time of Friday prayers, because they purportedly distract men.

This decision was taken at an emergency meeting called by the Anjuman, an organisation of the Khadims, late Friday night.

Describing the matter as serious, the meeting unanimously decided to suspend Hassan. The Anjuman also warned him against making such statements in the future.

Hassan, along with president of dargah committee Peerzada Sibli Qasim, had banned women from the dargah at the time of prayers.

They opined that if a woman sits in front during the Friday prayers, then the man's prayer becomes unacceptable, and demanded separate place for women worshippers.