- Sher Abbas Stanikzai, a senior Taliban figure, calls for an end to the education bans on Afghan women and girls.
- Stanikzai emphasizes that these bans are unjust and contrary to Islamic law.
- His remarks mark a rare public challenge to Taliban leadership and policy.
Sher Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban’s political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, publicly criticized the group’s stance on banning education for Afghan women and girls.
Speaking at a religious school ceremony in Khost, Stanikzai declared that there was no valid reason for these restrictions, asserting that they went against both Islamic law and basic human rights. His comments were a direct appeal to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, marking a rare dissent within the group’s leadership.
Taliban Senior Official Calls for Education Access for Afghan Women
The Taliban has imposed significant restrictions on women’s access to education since taking power in 2021, including barring girls from attending school after sixth grade. This move has been met with widespread condemnation from the international community. Stanikzai’s call for policy reform is seen as a bold challenge to the Taliban’s rigid policies, reflecting growing internal divisions regarding the treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.
Stanikzai framed his criticism as a call for justice, arguing that depriving women of education was not supported by Islamic teachings. He expressed concerns that the policy was not in line with religious law, but rather a personal choice that unfairly affects half of Afghanistan’s population. This critique suggests the emergence of internal conflicts within the Taliban regarding the treatment of women in their society.
The education bans imposed by the Taliban include restrictions on girls’ schooling after the sixth grade, with reports also suggesting the suspension of medical training for women. The implications of these policies have been devastating, particularly in healthcare, where female professionals are essential for the country’s well-being. Without adequate education, the future prospects for women in Afghanistan remain bleak.
This rare dissent from Stanikzai could be a sign of potential change within the Taliban leadership, though it is unclear whether his appeal will result in a shift in policy. The international community has long pushed for the restoration of women’s rights in Afghanistan, and Stanikzai’s comments may increase the pressure on the Taliban to reconsider their stance on education.
Sher Abbas Stanikzai’s appeal for the reopening of educational opportunities for Afghan women and girls may represent the beginning of internal calls for change within the Taliban’s leadership.
“We are committing an injustice against 20 million people out of a population of 40 million, depriving them of all their rights. This is not in Islamic law, but our personal choice or nature.” – Sher Abbas Stanikzai
