Afghanistan Times
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KABUL: The deprivation of girls’ students in grades 7-12 from education is still facing strong criticism at national and international levels.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said the Islamic Emirate’s decision to close schools for girls above grade six is in contrast with the promises it made to the international community.
“We are extremely worried about the situation for women and girls. They are facing heightened risk and challenges affecting their ability to move around freely and to work,” said Shabia Mantoo, a spokesperson for the United Nations Refugee Agency.
However, the Islamic Emirate said plans are underway to facilitate reopening of girls’ schools.
This comes as Amnesty International called on the international community to stand beside the Afghan women and insist on girls’ access to schooling.
In an open letter to the Islamic Emirate, Abdul Bari Jahani, former Minister of Information and Culture, voiced his concerns over the current situation in Afghanistan and the closing of schools for girls and said the country’s development is impossible without girls’ access to education.
An Indian newspaper The Print reported that more than two dozen senior members of the Islamic Emirate are sending their daughters to school in Doha, Qatar as well as Karachi and Peshawar of Pakistan.
But the Islamic Emirate denied it.
