Afghanistan Times
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AT Kabul: Former president Hamid Karzai, has once again urged the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools and universities for girls, emphasizing that education is not only a fundamental right but also essential for the dignity, survival, and progress of the Afghan people.
In a message marking the start of the new academic year, Karzai lamented the ongoing restrictions on female education, noting that while the occasion should be one of hope, millions of Afghan girls above sixth grade have been deprived of schooling for more than three years.
“The ban on girls’ education is a major obstacle to the progress of our society and is forcing families and young people to leave the country,” Karzai wrote on X, warning that Afghanistan risks sliding further into regression unless the restrictions are lifted.
Karzai, who also served as the president of Afghanistan’s transitional government, has consistently urged the Taliban to allow girls to learn. In his latest plea, he stressed that “education is the foundation of development and progress, and young people must have the opportunity to learn in their own country.”
Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women’s education, barring girls above the sixth grade from attending school and banning women from universities. Despite mounting pressure from Islamic scholars and the broader Muslim world, the regime has not only upheld these policies but has further tightened its grip.
Most recently, Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada issued a directive—conveyed through the group’s health minister—prohibiting women from studying medicine and other healthcare-related fields, deepening the crackdown on female education.
Karzai remains one of the most vocal figures calling on the Taliban to reverse these policies. However, his appeals, along with those of international organizations and Afghan civil society, have so far been met with silence or further restrictions from the ruling regime.
