“We went to the university, the Taliban were at the entrance gates and they told us ‘you are not allowed to enter the university until further notice’…everyone was crying” said one student…
Female university students in Afghanistan were kicked off campuses today after decision by the Taliban government to ban women from higher education.
The decision was announced yesterday afternoon in a letter sent to universities by the ministry of higher education and drew condemnation from foreign governments and the United Nations.
“We went to the university, the Taliban were at the entrance gates and they told us ‘you are not allowed to enter the university until further notice’…everyone was crying,” says Shaista, an economics student at a private university in Kabul.
A professor at another Kabul university, who declined to be named, said university staff kicked the female students out of the university gate because they had no choice but to implement the order.
The ban on female students is likely to complicate the Taliban government’s efforts to win international recognition and get rid of sanctions that have hit the economy hard.
The third year Political Science student Hashibawho lives in Kabul, says she was studying for her exams when she heard about the government’s announcement.
“It’s very hard to accept, it’s unbelievable, I can’t believe it happened,” he says.
“When there is no education for women in a society how can we hope for a bright future?” he wonders.
According to the announcement late last night, the decision was taken by the Taliban cabinet.
Several Taliban officials, including the deputy foreign minister and the government spokesman, have spoken out publicly in recent months in favor of women’s education.
The movement’s supreme spiritual leader, who is based in Kandahar, has the final say on major decisions.
Diplomatic and official Taliban sources have told Reuters the issue is under discussion by the leadership.
“The decision has been expected for weeks, prompting some Western officials to start talking about additional sanctions and additional economic restrictions,” says Graham Smith, senior adviser at the NGO International Crisis Group.
“But the anger of the West will strengthen the determination of the Taliban leadership, which defines itself as a wall against the outside world,” he adds.
The Taliban leadership has stated that it wishes to have peaceful relations with the international community, but that outsiders should not interfere in Afghanistan’s internal affairs.
Most girls cannot continue in school after the first grades of primary school. The Taliban government has said it is working on a plan for girls’ secondary education, but has not set a timetable.
However, he made a surprise U-turn on indications that he would open all girls’ high schools in March.
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