Editorial | War against Afghan women

A global backlash has been triggered by the decree of the Taliban government banning Afghan women from attending universities. We believe it is a decision that should be roundly condemned by people of goodwill everywhere.

Explaining why the ban was necessary, Afghanistan’s minister of higher education said it was done to prevent the mixing of genders in universities, and because some subjects being taught violated the principles of Islam. He also expressed concern about how women were dressed.

If as quoted, the minister uttered these words: “No PhD or master’s degree is valuable today. You see that the Mullahs and Taliban that are in power have no PhD, master’s or even a high school degree, but they are the greatest of all,” they portray the Taliban mindset which resides in the country’s all-male cabinet.

Among the countries and organisations condemning the decree were foreign ministers of the G7 group which issued a statement after a virtual meeting, calling the ban gender persecution, and adding it could even amount to a crime against humanity.

The G7 group which includes France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union warned that Taliban policies designed to erase women from public and professional life will have consequences of how they will engage with the Taliban in future.

Not only are women banned from universities, Afghan girls haven been prohibited from receiving even a basic level of education. The regime, which seized power in August 2021, seem bent on limiting girls from participating in the building of their country.

RETROGRADE STEP

Blocking females access to education is nothing but a retrograde step which is taking us back to the ‘Dark Ages’. One can imagine the levels of sadness in that country as little girls see their dreams of increasing their knowledge and pursuing careers being destroyed.

According to statistics posted by UNICEF, more than 129 million girls throughout the world are not attending school. Reciting some of the returns in investing in girls’ education, the UN agency concerned with the welfare of children cited higher national growth rates, lower rates of child marriage and mortality and increased life-term earnings of women.

The decision by the Taliban deals a dramatic blow to women’s freedom gained through long-fought battles. The question is who will speak up for these women and girls? UN Secretary General António Guterres is on record urging the international community to fight back in defence of the rights of Afghan girls and women.

As people get down to the merrymaking of a Christmas they might easily forget the atrocities that are taking place in Afghanistan. This should not be. The world needs to urgently reassess its engagement with this Taliban regime. The outrage being expressed around the world should not be allowed to cool, and it is not enough, it should be followed by retributive measures.

Until the Taliban acknowledges that education is a fundamental right of all Afghans – girls and boys – it should not be accepted as a respected member of the community of nations.