Any hopes about the Taliban’s amending purpose in Afghanistan have long been dashed. But banning girls from secondary and university education is the last straw for international patience. The UN’s harsh reaction will have practical consequences for the arrival of international aid, especially after the decision of several NGOs to leave the country.
The Taliban are responsible for the dramatic deterioration in living conditions and can no longer blame only a Western conspiracy. The Muslim world has actively joined the condemnations this time. Very significant was the harsh reaction of the Imam of al-Azhar, the main authority of Sunni Islam, the branch to which the fundamentalist regime belongs.
This was influenced by the dialogue initiated by the last popes with the main centers of Islamic thought, in search not only of greater mutual understanding, but of a common openness to reason, delegitimizing any spurious use of reason. Benedict XVI dared to bring this thorny issue to the table and since then Francis has managed to cultivate a relationship of esteem and sincere friendship which is facilitating a much-needed internal debate within Islam to purge itself of elements such as Taliban extremism, repugnant to all true believer in a compassionate, just and merciful God.
