Taliban's ban on women's education attracts widespread reactions

New Delhi: The controversial orders issued early this week by the ruling Taliban government in Afghanistan to suspend higher education of women have attracted widespread criticism from across the globe.

In a letter, the Education Ministry of Afghanistan "ordered the immediate suspension of higher education for female students in Afghanistan until the next announcement."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he is "deeply alarmed by news reports that the Taliban have suspended access to universities to women and girls." According to Guterres, the denial of education not only violates the equal rights of women and girls but will have a devastating impact on the country's future. He urged Afghanistan's "de facto authorities" to "ensure equal access to education at all levels for women and girls."

In a strongly-worded statement, UNESCO, an education arm of the UN, said it shared "the outrage of millions of Afghans and the international community over the decision" and called on the authorities to "immediately revoke the decision".

Human Rights Watch criticized the ban on Tuesday, calling it a "shameful decision that violates the right to education for women and girls in Afghanistan. The Taliban are making it clear every day that they don't respect the fundamental rights of Afghans, especially women, "the rights watchdog said in a statement. The Taliban's recent decision, he said, will "have significant consequences for the Taliban and will further alienate the Taliban from the international community and deny them the legitimacy they desire."

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry of Qatar expressed concerns over banning women and girls from attending school. The statement said these harmful practices would seriously impact human rights, development and the economy in Afghanistan. 

"As a Muslim state where women enjoy all due rights, particularly education, the State of Qatar calls on the Afghan caretaker government to review its decision in line with the teachings of the holy religion of Islam regarding women's rights," the statement reads.

The Doha government called on its Afghan counterparts "to review its decision in line with the teachings of the Islamic religion concerning women's rights".

Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its "astonishment and regret" at the decision by the Taliban and called on the Afghan caretaker government to reverse this decision, "which raises astonishment in all Islamic countries".

The US Department of State said it "condemns in the strongest terms the Taliban's indefensible decision" to ban women from universities, keep secondary schools closed to girls, and continue to impose other restrictions on the ability of women and girls in Afghanistan.

"The Taliban cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all in Afghanistan," the statement reads. "This decision will come with consequences for the Taliban." The State Department said that no other country in the world bars women and girls from receiving an education.

US Ambassador Robert Wood, the alternate representative for special political affairs, earlier reiterated those criticisms, telling a United Nations Security Council briefing that the "Taliban cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all Afghans, especially the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls."

In a statement, the Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs urges Afghan authorities to revisit the decision to suspend university and higher education for female students in Afghanistan. "We strongly believe that every man and woman has the inherent right to education in accordance with the injunctions of Islam," Pakistan's foreign ministry said.

Voices from Afghanistan

Former Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai expressed sorrow over the Islamic Emirate's decision to ban women from attending universities. He asked the government to immediately reopen schools and universities for women and girls.

"Education is one of the fundamental and basic rights of all citizens. Depriving girls of this right is regrettable."

Former HCNR chief Abdullah Abdullah said on Twitter. "While all citizens of the country support girls' education, I, as a citizen, expect & ask that the decision to close girls' schools & universities be reconsidered,"

Former US special envoy for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad, said that the announcement regarding women's banishment from higher education by a faction within the Taliban is shocking and incomprehensible.

"There is nothing within Islam or Afghan history to justify such a decision," he said. "Distinguished Islamic scholars in Afghanistan and around the world remind us that education for women and men is a basic Islamic principle."

Khalilzad said he calls on those "Taliban opposed to this decision and other Afghan leaders to do all they can to make sure this decision is reversed, and high schools and universities are opened for girls."