April 01, 2022

The Taliban cruelly denies girls’ right to education

topic:	Child rights
located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

The lack of recognition as a legitimate government is not the only problem that the Taliban can blame for their utter failure in delivering governmental services while snatching the hard-earned liberties from a war-torn nation. It is true that the blackout and isolation of Afghanistan in the international arena have made life more difficult for all Afghans, but if the population within the country is not happy with those in power trying to rule with an iron fist, even foreign acceptance and patronage would be in vain.

History is testimony to the fact that Afghans (and for that matter any nation) will not accept a regime imposed upon them or dictating the everyday lives of citizens rather than striving to serve them with justice.

Escaping from all the hardships of life, Afghans would normally breath with joy the scent of spring in the air at this time of year, especially at the heels of a harsh winter. They were, however, heartbroken this time to see young girls dressed up in tidy black and white school uniforms denied entrance to schools by the authorities under the pretext of 'Sharia'.  

The girls, their parents and teachers waited and waited for days, weeks and months for the Taliban's 'Islamic Emirate' authorities to get over their 'Sharia-compliance' policy once and for all so that the studies could resume. 

Remember that so many, in fact most of the schools in Afghanistan have been built with generous funding by the humanitarian world, and the international community has also promised to continue paying salaries to the teachers and other staff. So the Taliban's months-long 'deliberations' on transforming the education system to make it 'Sharia-compliance' sounds like no less than an ungrateful gesture of stubbornness and lack of respect for everyone - especially for the Afghans.

The Taliban authorities cite consultations for 'Sharia-compliance dress code' for girls as the reason behind not reopening their schools across the country! How bizarre considering the long-black shirt, trousers and the white veil that the Afghan girls have been wearing for the past many years.

The Bakhtar state news agency reported that the Ministry of Education had issued a statement saying that all girls’ schools (secondary and high schools) would be closed until the ministry’s next order. After months of closure, the statement said that if the school uniform is designed in accordance with Afghan law, customs and culture, then the corresponding schools will resume studies according to the ruling of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate.

This narrow-minded approach to ruling a nation so diverse and naturally gifted is only doomed.

Photo by Duo Nguyen

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