After women banned from university.. Taliban provokes worldwide resentment

In yet another move against women’s rights, the Taliban has banned women from receiving university education in Afghanistan, despite promises of a “softer base,” and the Taliban have been on a major awakening to suppress women’s rights to freedom and education.

International discontent

According to AFP, the decision has provoked dismay from the international community and could further isolate the extremist movement that seized power in August 2021. The decision was issued yesterday evening through a letter to all public and private universities in the country – signed by Minister of Higher Education Nada Mohamed Nadim – stating: “You are all aware of the immediate implementation of the said order to stop female education until further notice.” This comes less than three months after thousands of women have taken university entrance exams across the country, as universities are currently closed during winter break and are due to reopen in March.

It went on to say that the United States was the first to criticize the resolution and the Taliban’s practices against women’s freedom, and warned of “countermeasures.” “The Taliban should expect that this decision, which goes against the commitments they have repeatedly made to their people, will carry tangible costs for them,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said during a news conference… “This will have serious consequences for the Taliban and will increase the international community’s distaste for the Taliban, depriving them of the legitimacy that they desire,” he said.

ONU reaction

Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed “grave concern” over the embargo, his spokeswoman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement. “The Secretary-General reiterates that the denial of education not only violates the equal rights of women and girls, but will have a devastating impact on the future of the country,” Dujarric said.

After the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, several crackdowns took place – particularly on women’s and minority rights – from ordering all universities to implement new rules on gender-segregated classrooms and entrances, to ordering all female television presenters. They cover their faces on air. In western Afghanistan’s Herat province, men and women are not allowed to sit together in restaurants, even if they are husband and wife.