The next day Afghanistan The Taliban authorities banned women from studying at universities, armed guards prevented hundreds of young women from entering university complexes.
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As AFP news agency reporters noted, female students gathered in front of several universities in Kabul on Wednesday and were prevented from entering the university complexes by armed guards. Even the university gates were closed.
Many hijab-clad female students were also seen standing in groups along the roads leading to universities.
Most public and private universities are closed for several weeks in the winter, however university complexes are generally open to students and staff.
The Afghan Taliban authorities on Tuesday announced a nationwide ban on women getting a university education, as hardline Islamists continue to limit Afghan women’s right to education and their freedom.
“You are all advised to immediately implement the above order – to suspend girls’ education until further notice,” said a letter to all government and private universities signed by Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadim.
Washington categorically condemned this decision.
“The Taliban should have no hope of being a legitimate member of the international community if it does not respect the rights of all people in Afghanistan. This decision will have consequences for the Taliban,” US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said in a statement.
STILL Secretary-General António Guterres is “deeply disturbed” by the ban, his press secretary confirmed on Tuesday.
“The Secretary-General reiterates that the ban on education not only violates the equal rights of women and girls, but will also have a devastating effect on the future of the country,” Stefan Dižarik said in the statement.
Just less than three months ago, thousands of women took the college entrance exams. Many of them hoped to build a career in education or medicine.
When the Taliban returned to power last year, universities were forced to introduce new conditions: provide separate auditoriums for men and women, and only women or older men could teach female students.
Most adolescent girls are already deprived of secondary education, so the number of women enrolled in universities is also declining.
However, several Taliban officials point out that the ban on secondary education for girls is temporary in nature, explaining the ban with excuses such as lack of funds and the need to rework school curricula at the discretion of the new government.
The international community makes it clear that all women’s right to education is a stumbling block in negotiations for aid and recognition of the Taliban regime.
In the 20 years between the fall of the first Taliban regime and Afghanistan’s return to power, girls could be educated in schools and women could work in all sectors, even though the country was socially conservative at the time.
