By: Rukhshana Media
Shir Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, said there is no religious reason for the closure of girls’ schools.
Speaking at an event marking the international tourism day in Kabul Tuesday, September 27, he called for the immediate reopening of schools to all girls and boys.
“The school gates should open to everyone in Afghanistan as soon as possible,” he told the gathering.
Stanekzai also raised concerns over the closure of girls’ schools earlier.
“We are obliged to pave the way for education for all individuals in society, male and female,” he was quoted saying in the spring. “This is their natural and Islamic right.”
Stankekzai’s latest remarks come a day after a Taliban spokesman, Bilal Karimi, told Rukhshana Media that girls’ education is an insignificant issue and the world shouldn’t impose economic sanctions on the Taliban’s government due to the closure of girls’ schools.
Karimi said the schools are closed due to religious reason without providing further details.
The Taliban closed girls’ secondary schools after seizing power over one year ago, depriving millions of girls from getting education.
The Taliban’s former Education Minister, Noorullah Monir, said earlier this month that the schools remain closed due to the cultural restrictions because Afghans don’t want to send their 16-17 years old daughters to school in the current situation.
Meanwhile, Afghans worry the Taliban’s government is radicalizing the new generation by importing extremist materials into the school and university curriculums.
Some worry even if the Taliban allow the reopening of schools, the future of many students could be at risk due to the ongoing radicalization process at schools and universities.
