Taliban Minister Urges Education Ban Lift for Afghan Girls

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In a significant shift, Taliban's acting deputy foreign minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, has called for the reopening of schools for girls in Afghanistan. This plea, made during a recent speech, marks one of the strongest public criticisms of the government's restrictive education policies. Stanekzai emphasized that current bans on girls' education are inconsistent with Islamic Sharia law, highlighting the deprivation faced by millions.

He argued that historically, both men and women had access to education during the time of the Prophet Muhammad, and he urged senior leaders of the Taliban to rectify this injustice against Afghanistan's female population, which he estimated to be around twenty million.

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban has faced growing international criticism due to its policies, including the closure of universities for female students at the end of 2022 and the retreat from previous commitments to reopen high schools for girls. Despite claims of upholding women's rights according to their interpretation of Islamic law, the group has yet to provide a clear timeline for the resumption of girls' education.

Foreign diplomats have indicated that any formal recognition of the Taliban's government is contingent upon changes to its policies regarding women's rights and education. Stanekzai's remarks have yet to receive an official response from the Taliban leadership.

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