“Today we come out on the streets of Kabul to raise our voices against the closure of the girl’s universities.”
BODY: Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education now restrict women from attending universities and other higher education institutions on Tuesday. Universities were sent an official letter to ban female students.
Ever since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, women have been systematically stripped of their fundamental rights through the passage of regressive laws. By stating the reason for the latest restriction as given by the Higher Education Minister, Neda Mohammed Nadeem blames women for their own predicament as they were not wearing hijabs on campus. “They were dressing like they were going to a wedding. Those girls who were coming to universities from home were also not following instructions on hijab,” he said. He also added that the disciplines of engineering, agriculture and science do not match the dignity and honour of female students or Afghan culture.
This move has been internationally condemned for its regressive nature. Universities in Kabul staged protests last Wednesday against the same. Five women who were protesting have been arrested by the government. Protesters from the Afghanistan Women’s Unity and Solidarity Group stated, “Today, we come out on the streets of Kabul to raise our voices against the closure of the girls’ universities.”
