Over the past three years, the Taliban have barred girls and women in Afghanistan from attending schools beyond the sixth grade. The group has given various excuses for keeping schools and universities closed to females. Recently, however, the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs responded sarcastically when asked about reopening girls’ schools, saying: “Which schools?!” This remark sparked outrage among citizens, who noted that the laughter added insult to the wounds of millions of girls still hoping for the reopening of schools and universities. Many believe the Taliban place no value on girls’ education and that educational institutions will never reopen for them under the group’s rule. Others have pointed out the Taliban’s astonishing indifference toward educating half of Afghanistan’s population.
Abdul Kabir’s sarcastic response to Ariana News regarding the reopening of schools quickly spread on social media. Many citizens described the Taliban’s stance on the demands of girls and women as deeply insulting. They argue that the official’s laughter underscores the group’s indifference and disregard for the issue of girls’ education.
In a televised interview, when asked about the reopening of girls’ schools, this Taliban official laughed and then asked: “Which schools?” He went on to say that girls’ schools up to the sixth grade are open and claimed that women are still working in the health sector, while only schools and universities are closed to girls until further notice. It has now been three years since this group first issued the “until further notice” directive.
The laughter of the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister for Political Affairs has triggered various reactions among the public. Some view it as a sign of disrespect toward women and girls, emphasizing that education is not a priority for the Taliban and that educational institutions may never reopen for girls under their rule. Others believe that the Taliban show an unbelievable level of indifference to educating half of Afghan society, perceiving women’s presence in public life as a source of shame and disgrace.
Maryam was in the 10th grade when the Taliban took over Afghanistan. She says that after three years, she has lost hope of schools reopening and that she is now too old to continue her education. She adds that over the past three years, she has endured nothing but suffering and sees no bright future for herself or her peers.
Mehrafza was a second-year university student in Badakhshan when the Taliban imposed the ban on girls and women’s education. She says she has spent this time “in grief and pain.” According to her, there is no bright future for women under Taliban rule, and the group began mocking women the moment they closed the doors of schools and universities, erasing women from all aspects of collective life.
This university student, deprived of her education, points out that the Taliban’s Deputy Prime Minister’s sarcastic laughter continues the group’s insulting behavior, which they cannot hide even in front of the media. She adds that this laughter reflects the Taliban’s repeated disrespect for girls in Afghanistan. According to her, the Taliban view women merely as “sexual slaves” and “prisoners,” created solely for unquestioning obedience to the men in their families.
Other women have also expressed that the Taliban official’s laughter at the legitimate demands of girls and women adds salt to the wounds of those deprived of education. Mozhgan Faraaji, a women’s rights activist, reacted to Abdul Kabir’s laughter by saying it is like “sprinkling salt on the wounds of millions of women and girls who are still waiting for schools and universities to reopen.” She wrote, “We saw who sold the country and who paid the price.”
Meanwhile, experts from the United Nations Human Rights Council, marking the third anniversary of the fall of Afghanistan to the Taliban, issued a joint statement calling on the international community not to normalize the institutionalized system of discrimination, segregation, disrespect for human dignity, and the exclusion of women and girls under Taliban rule.
In their statement, these experts highlighted that over the past three years, the people of Afghanistan, especially women and girls, have been oppressed by a regime that lacks legitimacy and inclusivity. They added that the Taliban tolerate no opposition, suppress all forms of dissent, civil society, and the media, and have made it clear that they do not respect the principles of justice, non-discrimination, equality, or the rule of law.
The UN experts stressed that the situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating and called for stronger and more effective international action. Their statement reads: “Over the past year, the Taliban have strengthened and intensified their institutionalized system of gender-based oppression, introducing new discriminatory orders and enforcing them with violent and brutal methods.”
The experts noted that over the past three years, the Taliban have issued more than 80 decrees, orders, and statements specifically targeting and restricting the rights of women and girls. They stated, “The Taliban’s deliberate pressure on women and girls is widespread and systematic, amounting to crimes against humanity, including gender-based persecution. The situation has become so dire that many in Afghanistan now describe it as gender apartheid.”
Previously, on September 17, 2021, the Taliban-controlled Ministry of Education issued a statement informing all primary, secondary, and high schools for boys to resume educational activities starting September 18, 2021. As a result, all male teachers and students were instructed to return to school.
At the same time, the group continued to impose educational restrictions, prohibiting women and girls from pursuing their education. The Taliban-controlled Ministry of Higher Education sent a letter to public and private universities, stating that, based on a decision made by the group’s cabinet on December 19, 2022, girls’ education would remain suspended “until further notice.”
Most recently, in another move against women, the Taliban ordered the stoning of a woman in Sholgara district, Balkh province, which has led to widespread outrage from human rights activists and organizations. They have demanded an immediate halt to the stoning, deeming it a violation of human dignity.
You can read the Persian version of this new here:
تمسخر طالبان به محرومیت زنان؛ نگاه این گروه به زنان «اهانتبار» است | روزنامه ۸صبح
