A high-ranking Taliban official has publicly urged the group’s leader to lift the ban on Afghan women and girls attending school, calling it unjust and against Islamic law. Sher Abbas Stanikzai, a senior figure in the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry, made the statement at a religious school event in Khost province. He argued that denying education to women and girls was a violation of their rights and emphasized that there was no legitimate reason for such a prohibition.
Stanikzai’s call for the Taliban to change its policy on female education comes after reports that the government had also halted medical training for women in Afghanistan. This move has been criticized by international organizations and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, who recently urged Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban on this issue.
The UN has stated that recognition of the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan is unlikely as long as restrictions on female education and employment remain in place. Despite this, countries like Russia and India have been establishing relationships with the Taliban. In a recent meeting between Indian and Afghan officials in Dubai, they showed a deepening cooperation.
This rare public rebuke of the Taliban’s education policy by a senior member highlights growing international pressure on the group to lift restrictions on women and girls. Stanikzai’s comments mark a significant shift in his position, as he has previously advocated for girls’ education but has now directly called for a change in policy.
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