Women in Afghanistan are barred from parks, gyms, swimming pools and now university
The Taliban have announced the closure of universities to women in the country.
Taliban authorities allowed women to take university entrance exams for the next scholastic year, giving women a glimmer of hope. Now that has all changed.
Female university students have now effectively been expelled, due to their gender.
This means the highest level of education most Afghan girls will be able to attain is only to the end of primary school.
After the Taliban takeover last year, women have been facing an uncertain future.
The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 and banned most women and girls from attending high school.
Earlier this year, the Taliban government did not deliver on its commitment to open secondary schools for girls.
The latest measures are likely to cause further concerns in the international community, especially when there was a glimmer of hope the Taliban would implement a modern approach to government.
The U.S. condemns the Taliban’s decision.
.@StateDeptSpox: The U.S. condemns 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 to exercise their human rights. pic.twitter.com/IGkjxl59lT
— Department of State (@StateDept) December 20, 2022
US Deputy UN Ambassador Robert Wood condemned the Taliban’s latest actions.
“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 freedom of women and girls.”
