https://thewire.in/south-asia/afghan-women-university-ban-taliban-obaidullah-wardak
When news filtered out earlier this week that Afghan women were banned from universities, it led to an immediate visceral reaction from thousands of Afghans at home and abroad. As women were turned away from universities, many of them broke into tears. A few dozen women protested against the move at Kabul University, risking great danger as mass protests are often shut down forcefully by security agencies. At Nangahar University, male medical students walked out of exams as a mark of protest at their female classmates being excluded.
Simultaneously, lecturers in educational institutions across Afghanistan also expressed outrage at the development – by putting in their papers.
When the Taliban had been engaged with the United States in peace talks in 2020, it had projected a more progressive narrative by issuing statements that the insurgent group would guarantee the rights of all Afghans but never articulated any concrete policies.
After the takeover in August 2021, the Taliban issued a number of restrictions which largely erased Afghan women from public life. Currently, the Taliban have allowed girls to be educated only till sixth grade, which is the primary level.
24/12/2022
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