Criticism of Ban on Education for Women and Girls in Afghanistan
Afghanistan has long been struggling to provide access to education for women and girls, but the situation has become even more complicated since the Taliban takeover. Nasir Ahmad Andisha, the Afghan representative to the UN Human Rights Council, has criticized the ban on education for women and girls in Afghanistan. He called for the international community to provide schooling for females in Afghanistan. The Iranian religious scholar Mawlawi Abdul Hamid has also urged the Afghan government to provide education to women and girls.
Female Students in Afghanistan Facing Difficulties in Accessing Education due to Taliban Restrictions
The Taliban have imposed several restrictions on women and girls, especially regarding access to education. Despite the academic year starting nearly one month ago, female students have not yet been allowed to attend universities. Secondary schools have been closed for girls for almost two years, causing mental health problems for female students. Lack of a male person to accompany female students is causing problems when it comes to travelling as the Taliban have announced that no female can travel without a male accompanying them.
Bans on Protests and Demonstrations Following the Taliban’s Takeover
The Taliban have also imposed a ban on protests and demonstrations, with dozens of women being arrested and tortured for staging demonstrations. As a result, women’s rights activists are urging the Taliban to reopen universities for women and review their policies. Closure of universities is damaging Afghanistan’s education sector as female students strive to seek opportunities elsewhere.
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs Renamed
The Ministry of Women’s Affairs has been changed by the Taliban into “The Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice,” which imposes strict Islamic rules and can arrest women who do not follow them.
Women’s Rights Violated Across Various Spheres in Afghanistan
The Taliban have deprived Afghan women of their basic rights, including the right to participate in public and political life. All centers involved in music and arts education have been closed, and sports activities for women are banned. The segregation of male and female students in all educational centers has been mandated, and female students have been asked to stay in their houses as well.
Travel Restrictions Imposed on Afghan Women
Travel restrictions have been imposed, including requiring women to have a mahram (father, brother, husband, or son) to travel beyond 72 kilometers alone. Women are required to wear a hijab in public, and in some cases, their faces must be covered completely.
Women Banned from Driving and Working
Women are banned from driving, going to public places, interacting with male students and staff, choosing certain fields of study, and attending universities altogether. They have also restricted women’s right to work, control reproductive rights and even banned Valentine’s Day celebration. Images of women in the public space have been forcibly removed or defaced.
Taliban Rules Breaching Human Rights Standards
The recent Taliban rules regarding Afghan women breach human rights standards. According to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR), “the longer women are denied education or equal participation in decision-making positions because of discriminatory laws or customs, the more it causes female sorrow and disappointment.” The head of Islamic Emirate’s political office in Qatar, Suhail Shaheen said that the remaining issues would be addressed with the help of experts and according to Islamic law; however, the Islamic Emirate has not yet decided to reopen secondary/high schools for female students.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Afghanistan is currently facing many challenges when it comes to providing education for women and girls due to the Taliban restrictions. The international community is urged to provide schooling for females in Afghanistan so that they can continue their education, improve their lives and societies as a whole. The issue of women’s rights in Afghanistan must be addressed urgently to ensure that the basic human rights of every Afghan citizen are protected.
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