Senior Taliban Leader Calls for Women’s Education to Be Restored in Afghanistan

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In a significant departure from the Taliban's longstanding policy, Sher Abbas Stanikzai, a senior figure within the group, publicly urged the Taliban's leadership to lift the bans on education for women and girls in Afghanistan. Speaking at a gathering in Khost province on January 19, Stanikzai stated there is “no excuse” for preventing women and girls from accessing education, emphasizing that denying them education is an injustice to half of the Afghan population.

The Taliban government has imposed strict regulations restricting female education beyond the sixth grade and has also suspended medical training for women. Stanikzai argued that denying education contradicts Islamic law and reiterated that such policies stem from personal biases rather than religious justification.

His comments mark a notable moment in Taliban politics, as he directly appealed to the group's leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, for change. Analysts view this move as a potentially significant shift within the Taliban, hinting at internal divisions regarding the treatment of women. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, with no country currently recognizing the Taliban as legitimate rulers of Afghanistan amid ongoing concerns about women's rights.

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