Afghanistan. In Kabul, they demonstrate for a return of girls to college and high school

The action wasn’t massive and didn’t last long, but the symbol is strong. Twenty women and girls demonstrated Saturday in Kabul to cries of “open schools”, to protest against the Taliban’s decision to close secondary education to girls. The demonstrators were initially gathered in a square in the capital. Many wore black abayas and scarves, and several held placards that read, among other things, “You have taken my virtuous land, do not take my efforts and my education”.

The demonstration, the first for many weeks in the capital, lasted less than an hour, before being dispersed by armed Taliban who arrived on the scene.

The Taliban, in power in Afghanistan since August 2021, reversed their decision on Wednesday to allow girls to study in middle and high schools, just hours after the long-announced reopening. The announcement, as brutal as it was unexpected, took place when many students had already returned to class.

“Even the prophet said that everyone has the right to education”

“The Taliban should open schools for girls because women are part of society, they cannot oppress the women of Afghanistan,” said Laila Basim, a protester. “Even the prophet said in his words that everyone has the right to education, but the Taliban took that right away from us,” lamented Nawesa, a teenager, next to her.

This reversal of the Taliban has aroused numerous condemnations, including those of the UN, UNESCO and even Western countries.

Some practical problems?

On Saturday, the United States expected the Taliban to reconsider their decision “in the coming days”, according to the American envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West.

“Our policy is not against the education of girls,” assured his side a spokesman for the Taliban, Suhail Shaheen. According to him, “there are some practical problems” which have “not been resolved before the deadline for the opening of girls’ schools on March 23”.

Yet observers fear that the country’s new masters will once again ban school for girls, as they did during their first reign, from 1996 to 2001.

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