John AdoyiIn a rare and unexpected criticism of the Taliban government’s ban on female education after Primary school, Sher Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban deputy foreign minister, has openly stated that there is no justification for the policy.
Speaking on Saturday at a religious school ceremony, Stanikzai referred to the ban as a “personal choice” rather than a valid interpretation of Islamic law, adding to growing international pressure on the government to reverse its stance.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“There is no reason to deny education to women and girls,” Stanikzai declared. “Just as there was no justification for it in the past, there shouldn’t be one at all.”
The ban on education for girls beyond primary school was introduced shortly after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021, following the withdrawal of foreign troops. Since then, women have also been barred from accessing public spaces without a male guardian and universities, a situation that has persisted despite condemnation from organizations like UNESCO.
UNESCO has reported that at least 1.4 million girls are being denied proper education as a result of the ban. Stanikzai’s remarks echo concerns voiced by the international community and some Afghan citizens about the social and economic consequences of excluding half the population from education.
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“We call on the leadership of the Islamic Emirate to make education accessible to everyone,” Stanikzai urged. “Today, we are committing an injustice against 20 million people out of a total population of 40 million. We have stripped them of all their rights by closing the doors to schools and universities for them, giving them away as compensation in personal disputes, and preventing them from choosing their husbands.”
His comments shed light on the internal rift within the Taliban on the issue of women’s rights. Stanikzai acknowledged that global criticism of the Taliban government largely stems from policies like the education ban, which have isolated Afghanistan diplomatically.
The international community, including the United Nations, has repeatedly called for an end to the restrictions, urging the Taliban to ensure equal opportunities for women and girls. As pressure mounts, Stanikzai’s statements may signal the potential for dialogue within the Taliban leadership to address the issue.
The government initially said the ban was temporal, but later made it permanent.
