Education Under Fire: The Battle For Afghan Women's Right To Learn

Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, women's access to education has been severely restricted. Women have been barred from entering university campuses, and girls have been prohibited from attending secondary school. However, there are some exceptions, with girls' schools remaining open in certain provinces due to local compromises with the Taliban or strong local support for women's education. In addition, the Taliban has stated that women can study at universities, but with strict segregation from male students and a rigidly enforced dress code. Despite these exceptions, the overall situation for women's education in Afghanistan is dire, with millions of girls being robbed of their right to an education.

Women's education in Afghanistan under the Taliban

Women's education in Afghanistan has faced numerous challenges under the Taliban. The Taliban's approach to women's education has been marked by inconsistencies, with some provinces allowing girls' schools to remain open while others have enforced strict closures. The group has also imposed various restrictions on female students, including dress codes, gender segregation, and limited career prospects.

Since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, they have repeatedly restricted women's access to education. In August 2021, the Taliban initially allowed women to attend universities, but with strict gender segregation and adherence to "Islamic standards." However, by September, they reversed this decision, barring girls above the sixth grade from attending school and permitting only boys to resume their education. This move caused distress among students and sparked widespread condemnation from the international community.

The Taliban's justifications for these restrictions often centre around their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture. They have argued for the need to create a safe learning environment for girls and have imposed dress codes, such as requiring girls to wear the burqa or cover their faces with a niqab when travelling to and from school. Additionally, the Taliban have stated that men will not be allowed to teach girls, further limiting educational opportunities for female students.

The impact of these restrictions extends beyond the immediate disruption to girls' education. It also affects their future career prospects, as the Taliban have effectively barred women from most sectors beyond health and education. This restriction, combined with the lack of female teachers and the high cost of education, may discourage families from investing in their daughters' education.

Despite these challenges, some women and girls in Afghanistan have demonstrated remarkable resilience and resourcefulness. Some girls' high schools and private universities in Kabul have continued to operate, with gender segregation in classrooms. Additionally, online learning has emerged as a lifeline for female students, with organisations like the University of the People offering remote learning programs and scholarships specifically for Afghan women affected by the Taliban's policies.

The situation varies across Afghanistan, with some provinces allowing secondary education for girls. In Zabul, for example, girls' schools remained open even after the central Taliban government imposed a de facto ban on high school education for girls. Local activists and educators, such as Parveen Tokhi, have played a crucial role in negotiating with Taliban officials and keeping schools open.

While the Taliban's policies on women's education remain inconsistent and subject to change, the group's underlying philosophy has not significantly changed since their previous rule. The international community's response has included condemnation, aid suspensions, and demands for recognising women's right to education as a condition for the Taliban's legitimacy. However, the Taliban have largely ignored these demands and continued to impose restrictions on women's education and careers.

The Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law

Despite the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law, Islam is a faith that has improved the position of women in society, and many Muslims are confident that this spirit of reform was meant to continue.

Women's rights activism in Afghanistan

One prominent activist, Mariam Atahi, told DW that she fears for her life under the Taliban rule. Atahi has advocated for women's rights in Afghanistan for 20 years and believes that the Taliban will target her because of her work. She said, "I am afraid they will come and kill me... People are stressing out that... the Taliban will take Kabul and they are going to go back to the same situation as they were in 1996. Afghan women especially, who have gone through so much during the Taliban regime, are scared about what will happen."

Other women's rights activists in Afghanistan have also faced threats, violence, and detention for their work. In January 2022, Tamana Paryani and Parwana Ibrahimkhel were abducted from their homes by armed men claiming to be Taliban intelligence. The Taliban denied arresting the women, but their whereabouts remained unknown, heightening concerns for their safety. In another incident, female activist Zarifa Yaqobi and four male colleagues were arrested by police while organizing a news conference for a new women's movement called 'Afghan Women's Movement for Equality'.

Despite the risks, women's rights activists in Afghanistan have shown remarkable courage and resilience in their fight for change. Fawzia Koofi, the first woman Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Afghanistan, continued to campaign for women's participation in public decision-making and peace processes even after the Taliban takeover. In exile, she has focused on ensuring that Afghan women have platforms to continue advocating for their rights. Similarly, Habiba Sarabi, Afghanistan's first woman governor, has dedicated her life to politics and fighting for women's rights, even after being forced to flee the country twice due to the Taliban.

The work of women's rights activists in Afghanistan has had a significant impact, with some successes in improving women's access to education and employment. For example, in the southern province of Zabul, women's activists successfully negotiated with the Taliban to keep girls' schools open, despite a nationwide de facto ban on girls' education. In other areas, such as Mazar-e-Sharif city, Taliban officials have recognized the deep-rooted support for educating women and have allowed girls to continue their studies.

However, the fight for women's rights in Afghanistan is far from over. The Taliban's restrictive policies and interpretations of Islamic law continue to limit women's freedoms and opportunities. Women's rights activists in Afghanistan continue to face threats, violence, and detention for their work, and many have been forced to flee the country or go into hiding. Nevertheless, they remain committed to their cause and are determined to resist the Taliban's oppressive regime.

The international community's response to the Taliban's policies

The Taliban's policies on women's education in Afghanistan have been met with widespread condemnation from the international community. The US, the UK, and the UN have all criticised the ban, with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres urging the Taliban to "open schools for all students without any further delay".

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the US "condemns in the strongest terms the Taliban's indefensible decision to ban women from universities, keep secondary schools closed to girls, and continue to impose other restrictions on the ability of women and girls in Afghanistan to exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms". He added that the Taliban "cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all Afghans, especially the human rights and fundamental freedoms of women and girls".

The Taliban's decision has also been criticised by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was shot in the face by a Taliban fighter in Pakistan for her advocacy of girls' education. She said she was disappointed and that the Taliban "will keep finding excuses to stop girls from learning – because they are afraid of educated girls and empowered women".

The international community has also expressed concern over the impact of the ban on Afghanistan's future. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric described the move as "troubling", saying that "it’s difficult to imagine how a country can develop, can deal with all of the challenges that it has without the active participation of women and their education".

In response to the Taliban's policies, the international community has called for Taliban recognition to be made contingent on responsible and inclusive governance, with the US threatening consequences for the Taliban's decision. Fawzia Koofi, a member of Parliament in the republic government, has called for sanctions to be imposed on Taliban individuals. The international community has also made the right to education for all women a sticking point in negotiations over aid and recognition of the Taliban regime.

The impact of the Taliban's policies on women's employment

The Taliban's policies have had a devastating impact on women's employment in Afghanistan. Women have been banned from working in most sectors, with the exception of healthcare and education. This has resulted in a loss of income for many families, as women made up 20% of Afghanistan's workforce. The ban has also disrupted vital services such as education and healthcare, with a lack of female teachers and healthcare workers leading to school closures and a decline in maternal healthcare conditions.

The Taliban's restrictions on women's employment have been enforced through intimidation and inspections. Women who worked for foreign organisations or the previous Afghan government have been targeted for intimidation, with some going into hiding out of fear for their lives. The Taliban have also imposed new rules on women's dress and conduct, which further limit their career options. For example, women are now only allowed to become teachers or nurses.

The loss of income and employment has had a severe impact on the financial situation of Afghan women and their families. Many women were the sole or primary wage earners for their families, and most have lost their jobs due to the Taliban's policies. Those who are still working have largely not been paid due to the financial crisis in the country. The financial crisis has also affected those who worked from home, such as weavers and embroiderers, as there are now few jobs and little buying and selling.

The Taliban's ban on women's employment in NGOs has had a particularly damaging effect on the delivery of humanitarian aid. Many aid organisations have paused their operations in Afghanistan as a result of the ban, as they are unable to reach women and girls in need of assistance without female staff. This has led to a slowdown in aid delivery and is expected to result in "hundreds of thousands" of deaths. The ban has also dealt a blow to the Afghan economy, which was already suffering from a loss of international aid and a freeze on the country's foreign currency reserves.

The Taliban's policies on women's employment have had far-reaching consequences for Afghanistan, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the country and undermining efforts for post-war economic recovery. The loss of income and employment has left many families struggling to survive, and the disruption to education and healthcare services has affected the next generation of Afghans. The Taliban's restrictions on women's employment have limited the opportunities and freedoms of women in Afghanistan, with severe consequences for both individuals and the country as a whole.

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