The Taliban May Have Quietly Banned Girls From Elementary Schools A Day After Closing Universities To Women
The Taliban on Wednesday reportedly banned girls from attending elementary school, a move that effectively closes the door on all levels of education to female Afghans.
The ban was reportedly announced in a gathering in Kabul, the country’s capital, as part of a package of new restrictions for women, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. No official announcement has been made as of this writing.
This comes just a day after the Taliban government suspended university education for female students in Afghanistan, and armed Taliban guards barred them from entering their campuses.
On Wednesday, Taliban officials met with private-school directors, clerics, and community representatives, and also announced that female staff, including teachers, will be barred from working in schools, and that women could no longer go to mosques or attend religious seminaries.
The move is the latest blow in the hardline Islamists’ attack on the freedoms of Afghan women since they seized power in August 2021 after the United States withdrew from the country. The Taliban had initially promised a softer rule, but have instead insisted on a crackdown on women’s rights.
Its ban on female education has long drawn condemnation from the United Nations, foreign governments, and human rights groups. It has become a hurdle to the Taliban administration’s efforts to gain international recognition and is a significant factor for the sanctions imposed by the US.
The Wall Street Journal reports that according to attendees of the meeting, the Taliban said that the ban would be temporary. But they have said this before, back during the first time they ruled in the 1990s, and it proved to be untrue as the ban at the time was never lifted.
The Taliban doesn’t even have to order bans. When they seized power in August last year, the Taliban initially closed schools across the country. And after most schools had reopened, girls in secondary school were told to stay home. The Taliban administration claimed that it was working on a plan, but has failed to offer details or a time frame.
Not all members of the Taliban administration support the move to ban university education for women however. A younger generation of its leaders reportedly supports education for women and girls and some have publicly voiced their opposition to the ban.
Information for this briefing was found via WSJ, Reuters, and the sources and companies mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to this organization. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
