Version imprimableThe Editor’s Guild of India
Statement on the Exclusion of Women Journalists from the Press Conference by the Afghan Minister
October 11, 2025 | New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India strongly condemns the exclusion of women journalists from the press conference held on Friday, 10 October 2025, by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi at the Afghan Embassy in New Delhi. The conference was meant to address diplomatic and bilateral engagements during Mr. Muttaqi’s visit to India.
While diplomatic premises may claim protection under the Vienna Convention, that cannot justify blatant gender discrimination in press access on Indian soil.
Whether or not the MEA coordinated the event, it is deeply troubling that such a discriminatory exclusion was allowed to proceed without objection.
The absence of solidarity in pointing this discriminatory practice at the event signals a troubling complacency in our community.
The Editors Guild of India urges the Government of India to publicly reaffirm that press access at diplomatic events held in India must respect gender equity. We also call upon our journalist colleagues and media houses to reflect on this lapse and adopt a zero-tolerance stand against any kind of discriminatory exclusion of anyone at a press event. A free and inclusive press must defend representation, not enable exclusion.
Sincerely,
Anant Nath, President
Ruben Banerjee, General Secretary
K Ve Prasad, Treasurer
