Nangarhar residents are furious at the “humiliating” treatment by Taliban officials of local primary school teachers in a training workshop.
The Taliban’s Education Department in Nangarhar held a workshop in Jalalabad on Thursday for female teachers employed in primary schools.
Pictures of the workshop show about 25 women in burqas sitting on the floor with at least eight male Taliban officials sitting on sofas in front and to the side of them.
Local residents, who requested anonymity for fear of criticising the Taliban, told Rukhshana Media the treatment of the teachers was degrading and said that under Taliban rule, the status of women has been significantly impacted.
Mahbooba*, one of the teachers who attended the workshop, said that since the fall of the previous government to the Taliban in 2021, Afghan women have faced humiliation and discrimination, especially teachers.
Farhad*, a university student in Nangarhar province, said the officials’ behavior towards the women was insulting and shows the difference between men and women under Taliban rule. He added that the behavior of the Taliban is not compatible with Islam and Afghan culture.
Zubair*, a university professor in the province, also opposed the Taliban treatment of the teachers saying that Islam has given equal rights to men and women and that all people should be equal.
The Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on the rights and freedoms of women and girls in Afghanistan, including banning them from all educational institutions except primary school.
*Note: The names of the interviewees are pseudonyms.
