Taliban Admits Women’s Education Ban Contributed to Public Alienation

The Taliban has acknowledged that the ban on women’s education is the primary reason for the public’s distance from the group, according to Afghanistan’s Taliban-appointed Deputy Foreign Minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai. Speaking at a graduation ceremony organized by the Taliban’s Ministry of Borders and Tribal Affairs, Stanikzai emphasized the importance of reopening schools for girls beyond grade 6, stating that a society without knowledge is “dark.”

Stanikzai expressed that education is a natural right granted by God and the prophet, and anyone who violates this right oppresses the Afghan people. He called for the reopening of educational institutions for everyone, highlighting that the nation’s strained relations with neighboring countries and the world are largely due to the issue of education.

Noorullah Noori, the Taliban-appointed acting Minister of Borders and Tribal Affairs, also emphasized that there is no distance between religious and modern education under the Taliban’s rule. He stated that the education system currently in place is unprecedented and refuted claims of distance between different forms of education.

Since the Taliban regained power, girl students above grade six have been deprived of their right to education. In response, Habibullah Agha, an advocate for education, urged the Taliban and religious scholars to prioritize improving the quality of education.

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