From correspondents in Uttar Pradesh, India, 12:32 AM IST

A group of Muslim women offered prayers at a mosque here Friday, defying an edict issued by Islamic seminary Darul-uloom.

Led by the All India Muslim Women Personal Law Board chairperson Shaista Amber, around 20 women offered prayerS at the Amber Mosque.

'According to the holy Quran and Islam, women and men have equal rights to offer namaaz in mosques,' Amber said.

Asked about the Deoband-based Darul-uloom's edict restraining Muslim women from offering prayers in the mosque, she said: 'In foreign countries and even in other states of India, women and men offer prayers jointly in mosques.'

(Staff Writer, © IANS)