- Senior Taliban official calls for lifting bans on female education in Afghanistan.
- Sher Abbas Stanikzai says the policy violates Islamic Sharia and Afghan rights.
- The education ban affects 20 million Afghan women and girls.
- The Taliban promised reform but imposed stricter bans on female education.
- Global criticism mounts as bans hinder Afghanistan’s path to international recognition.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, a senior Taliban official, urged the removal of restrictions on women’s and girls’ education in Afghanistan. Speaking in Khost province last weekend, he called the bans unfair and against Islamic principles. He reminded everyone that education for both men and women existed during the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Stanikzai, who serves as deputy foreign minister, also stressed how deeply this policy harms the population. “Out of forty million people, we are being unjust to twenty million,” he said during his speech, according to Tolo News. He appealed to the Islamic Emirate’s leaders to reopen educational opportunities for women.
Taliban’s Policies and Broken Promises
The Taliban’s education bans have drawn criticism both within Afghanistan and internationally. In 2021, the Taliban initially promised to allow girls to continue their education. However, in 2022, they abruptly reversed that decision and banned girls from high schools and later universities.
Stanikzai’s comments represent one of the strongest rebukes from within the Taliban leadership against these policies. Diplomats and Taliban insiders have suggested the bans were enforced under pressure from Haibatullah Akhundzada, the group’s supreme leader, despite internal disagreements.
While the Taliban claim their policies align with Islamic law and Afghan culture, many Islamic scholars and global leaders have challenged this interpretation. Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, speaking at a recent conference organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), urged Muslim leaders to confront the Taliban on this issue.
Global Reaction and Isolation
The bans have significantly impacted Afghanistan’s international standing. Western governments and organizations, including the United Nations, have tied the Taliban’s recognition as Afghanistan’s legitimate rulers to reforms in women’s rights.
The UN has repeatedly emphasized that restrictions on female education and employment make formal recognition “almost impossible.” Meanwhile, diplomatic ties remain limited, with countries like Russia and India cautiously engaging with the Taliban government.
Despite this, some countries are increasing cooperation. Earlier this month, Indian Foreign Minister Vikram Misri met with Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai to discuss bilateral relations.
A Growing Crisis: The Impact of Education Bans on Afghan Women
The restrictions on women’s education and employment have created widespread challenges across Afghan society. Women can no longer work in many fields, which has worsened the country’s economic struggles. The healthcare sector faces severe strain since women and girls can only receive treatment from female doctors.
Reports indicate that even medical training for women has stopped, though the Taliban have not confirmed this. Addressing the issue, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai firmly stated, “This deprivation is not rooted in Islam but in personal preferences,” directly questioning the legitimacy of the ban.
Stanikzai’s remarks have brought renewed attention to the ongoing debate over women’s rights in Afghanistan. As both international criticism and domestic dissatisfaction grow, the Taliban leadership is under increasing pressure to justify and possibly revise its policies.
These calls for change highlight deeper internal conflicts within the regime. For Afghan women and girls, their fight for education represents more than a basic right—it stands as a beacon of hope and resilience in the face of oppression.