In 2021, the Taliban implemented a ban on girls in Afghanistan attending school beyond the sixth grade, citing their interpretation of Islamic law as the reason for this restriction. They also extended their limitations on women by excluding them from public spaces such as parks. This move faced global criticism, leading to the United Nations General Assembly including the Afghan crisis in its agenda.
Afghanistan is currently the only country in the world that imposes restrictions on female education. The United Nations estimates that over 1 million girls are affected by this ban, with an additional 5 million girls already out of school due to various reasons, including limited facilities. The ban has hindered the Taliban’s efforts to gain recognition as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. However, the Taliban remains defiant and has expanded their restrictions to higher education, public spaces, and most job opportunities for women and girls.
The ban on girls’ education is rooted in the Taliban’s interpretation of Islamic law and their belief that women should be excluded from social and public participation, particularly education. This perspective is influenced by both the tribalism prevalent in rural areas and a 19th-century Islamic school of thought. While outside Afghanistan, Muslim-majority countries emphasize the equality of male and female education, attempts to persuade the Taliban to lift the ban have been unsuccessful.
The ban on education for girls has significant repercussions, particularly in the training of healthcare professionals. Female medical students had their studies halted after a Taliban edict banned higher education for women. As a result, the pipeline of qualified healthcare professionals will dwindle, affecting access to medical care for Afghan women and children. Additionally, the high school ban has broader consequences for Afghanistan’s population, including a disrupted economy, loss of jobs, increased poverty, reduced GDP, and negative effects on public health and child protection.
It is uncertain whether the Taliban will change their stance on girls’ education. Sanctions, frozen assets, and global condemnation have had little impact thus far. Influencing the Taliban through countries that have relationships with them is challenging due to differing priorities. Therefore, pressure for change is more likely to come from within Afghanistan. The Taliban’s use of social media to communicate and their desire for international acceptance to stimulate economic growth indicate that public opinion may hold significant sway in affecting their policies. However, it may take years for the ban’s consequences to inspire widespread unrest among Afghan men. For now, it is primarily women who have protested against the restrictive measures.
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