Taliban Deputy Urges Reform: No Justification for Banning Education for Afghan Women and Girls

A senior figure in the Taliban has publicly criticized the group’s restrictions on education for women and girls. He urged the Taliban’s leader to lift these bans, stating there is no valid reason to keep them in place.

Sher Abbas Stanikzai, who holds a key position in the Foreign Ministry, made these comments during a speech in Khost province. He spoke at a ceremony hosted by a religious school and emphasized that denying education to women and girls is unjustified, both now and in the past.

Currently, the Taliban restricts girls from attending school after the sixth grade. Reports from last September indicated that women have also been barred from medical training and courses.

In Afghanistan, women can only receive medical treatment from female healthcare providers. The authorities have not confirmed the ban on medical training for women.

Stanikzai expressed, “We call on the leadership again to open the doors of education.” He highlighted that around 20 million people are being denied their rights, which he argued is not aligned with Islamic principles but rather a matter of personal choice.

Stanikzai has previously advocated for women’s education. In September 2022, he made similar remarks a year after girls’ schools were closed, ahead of a total university ban.

However, this latest appeal marks a significant shift, as it directly calls for policy change from Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, which is a first.

Commentators like Ibraheem Bahiss from Crisis Group noted that while Stanikzai has often spoken in favor of girls’ education, this time he openly challenged the legitimacy of the current restrictions.

Earlier this month, Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, also urged Muslim leaders to hold the Taliban accountable regarding the education of women and girls. Her comments were made during a conference in Islamabad, organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League.

The UN has stressed that no recognition of the Taliban is likely if bans on education and employment for women continue. The current situation requires women to have a male guardian to go out in public.

Despite not being officially recognized as the legitimate government, countries like Russia have begun to foster ties with the Taliban. Similar efforts are evident in India, where diplomatic relations are also strengthening.

Recently, a meeting took place in Dubai between India’s Foreign Minister and the Taliban’s counterpart, reflecting a growing cooperation between the two.