Taliban's Women's Education Ban

In a surprising revelation, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, acknowledged the detrimental impact of the ban on women’s education in the country.

Stanikzai stated that the ban, in effect for two years, has led to a significant diplomatic fallout, as nations distance themselves due to this controversial policy.

Expressing his opinion on the matter, Stanikzai emphasized that the primary reason for the international community’s disapproval of the Taliban lies in the persistent prohibition of women’s education.

He went on to declare the ban as contradictory to Islamic laws, describing it as “oppression against Afghans” and condemning the society as “dark.”

Addressing a graduation ceremony, Stanikzai stressed the urgent need to reopen schools for girls beyond grade 6, asserting that a society without knowledge remains in darkness.

He argued that education is a fundamental right bestowed by God and prophets, questioning the legitimacy of anyone denying this “natural right” to the people and labeling it as oppression.

Furthermore, Stanikzai asserted that the nation’s current issues with neighboring countries stem from the education problem.

He urged authorities to make efforts to reopen schools for everyone, underscoring that the denial of education is the root cause of the strained relationships with neighboring nations.

The Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, Noorullah Noori, chimed in during a graduation ceremony organized by the ministry.

Noori claimed that there is no dichotomy between tribal and modern education in Afghanistan. He highlighted that students in remote areas lacking access to education are now enrolled in schools following the Islamic Emirate’s rules.

However, even within the Taliban administration, there are dissenting voices. The Acting Education Minister, Habibullah Agha, recently criticized the poor quality of education in religious schools and called for serious attention to improve its standards.

Agha’s remarks indicate a recognition within the Taliban leadership of the shortcomings in their education system.

Since the Taliban assumed control, Afghanistan has witnessed a drastic decline in women’s progress. The ban on women’s education has led to a severe drop in the literacy rate, affecting more than 1.1 million people, as reported by UNESCO.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The shethepeople