PESHAWAR: The Sunehri Mosque of Peshawar opened its doors for women after nearly two decades earlier this week following a substantial improvement in the security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa, according to media sources.

Women worshipers can now offer prayers on Friday and Eid at the historic 1,800 square foot mosque situated in the cantonment region of Peshawar. Women worshipers were prohibited from entering the mosque when the state of law and order in the town was very precarious.

Islam says women should give congregational prayers at the mosque according to Maulana Mohammad Ismail, the naib khateeb of Sunehri Masjid.

Sunehri Masjid’s foundation stone was laid in 1946, and its building was completed in 1992. The mosque can house about 6,000 worshippers at a time.

The authorities allegedly put up a banner outside the mosque with a sign that read “women are now welcome to pray in Sunheri Masjid on Friday.”