A number of civil society activists, journalists, and others said that the “Gathering of Islamic Clerics” is not inclusive and they called on the officials to involve women, youth and media in the gathering.

The gathering, according to them, will be pointless without the participation of women and the media.

"If they had invited critics, women, scholars, youth, media, politicians to the gathering, we would have seen the news coverage of them through the media,” said Ahmad Nabil Ghazizada, a civil society activist of Badakhshan.

"We have many brave and active women who should attend this gathering,” said Shabnam Shahriyar, an activist in Badakhshan.

Meanwhile, women called on the participants at the gathering to decide on the reopening of girls' schools above 6^th grade in the country.

"Girls have the right to go to school and study. It has been a year that schools have been closed to girls,” said Zainab, a student.

"I ask the Islamic Emirate to reopen girls’ school,” said Mastora, another student.

The decision to forbid media from covering the event from the hall has sparked reactions from a number of journalists.

"Not covering programs like the Loya Jirga--I don't think that this Loya Jirga will benefit the Afghan people and be accepted by the Afghan people,” said Lal Mah Hasrat, a reporter.

"Unfortunately, the current government, which is responsible for leading the country, does not inform the media so that the public may be informed about the programs, the agenda, that the Loya Jirga that has been held, the scholars who have been invited, and the decisions that have been made," said Bais Hakimi, another reporter.

"We hope that the Islamic Emirate puts an end to the current problems by holding this gathering in Afghanistan,” said Sami Allah, a resident of Badakhshan.

Since, the Islamic Emirate came to power, this is the first nationwide gathering in the country.