Taliban deny claims girls will be banned from school
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| Afghan girls studying in a madrasa |
The Taliban has denied banning Afghan women from secondary school. Recently, they only instructed the boys to return to school. The country needs to introduce a "safe transportation system" for students before they can be allowed to return to the classroom, the group said.
The Taliban Education Ministry has ordered students and teachers from class VI to XII in Afghanistan to start education programs from Saturday. The announcement issued on Friday did not mention women students. As a result, the country's girls are also feared to be deprived of secondary education.
From 1996 to 2001, when the Taliban last held power, they banned women from education and work. At the same time, their rights were also strictly restricted.
However, Taliban spokesman Jabiullah Mujahid told CNN on Saturday that women would be allowed to study. Mujahid said the Taliban is currently working on creating a safe transport system for girls in classes VI to XII.
"They must follow certain rules while in class to be safe and healthy," he said. "
He also noted that women of other ages have been allowed to continue their studies. "Girls continue their studies in private and government-funded universities. But we are taking necessary steps to continue the education of students from Class VI to XII," said Mujahid.
An Afghan girl who was hoping to return to school told CNN that their Friday announcement seemed like a shock to her where the Taliban allowed girls to go to primary school.
"I was hoping to go back to school and get closer to my dream," says Tamana, who did not want to reveal her full name. But now everything looks vague. If the Taliban doesn't allow us to go back to school, our future and hope will be shattered forever. "
Taliban leaders had promised several times before to respect women's rights. They publicly stressed that women will play a prominent role in society and get access to education.
However, the current reality in Afghanistan is quite different from that promise. Women have been completely excluded from the cabinet of the country's new, toughest government.
In addition, the Taliban have in some cases ordered women to leave their workplaces. In the meantime, Taliban forces jumped on a group of women with whips and sticks when they protested against the announcement of a male-ruled government last week.
Meanwhile, the Taliban has made it mandatory for women and male students to sit separately in classrooms even though women are allowed to continue their studies at the university. Moreover, students and women lecturers and employees must wear hijab as per the group's own explanation of sharia law.
UNICEF chief Henrietta Fore said they were worried about depriving women of education in Afghanistan. "Women cannot lag behind and they should neither," she said on Friday. And it is important for girls of all ages to resume their studies without delay. For this, teachers have to start teaching again. "
Desk report. 2021-09-20
