The Deputy Head of the Grand Mosque’s affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Nasser Al-Khozaim refuted the reports carried by a section of media that there are plans to do away with the present prayer area for women in the Sahn al-mataaf, the open area in the immediate vicinity of the Holy Kaaba.

       Speaking to Okaz newspaper, Dr. Al-Khozaim said that women have the same right as men to pray in Sahn Al-mataaf and that the media reports in this regard are a result of misunderstanding. He said that the whole thing was that in view of the steadily growing members of women, there was a proposal to increase the areas reserved for women during the five daily obligatory prayers by allocating two other locations which have more space than the area presently allocated for them (It may be noted that women are free to perform tawaaf and non-obligatory prayers inside the Sahn Al-mataaf).  In other words, this will mean that around 53% of the Grand Mosque’s space will now be reserved for women to pray, which is more than men.