Statement on Taliban’s Decision to Ban Women from all Public and Private Universities in Afghanistan

“Seeking Knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim, man and woman” (Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h)

Unfortunately, in addition to the previous restrictions on girls’ education at both secondary and higher education, Taliban issued an order, which was enforced on 21 December 2022 and banned all Afghan women (students and teachers) from entering any public or private higher education institute and university inside Afghanistan. Taliban’s action and their attempts to justify it are unacceptable to Afghanistan citizens. We at Bakhtar Institute, consider this action and other restrictions imposed by the Taliban on education of girls and women very painful that are not only a violation of human dignity, but also in clear contradiction with cultural and religious beliefs of the people of Afghanistan.

Bakhtar Institute, as a professional Afghan diaspora organization focusing on Research, Education and Advocacy, believes that the right to education is an undeniable fundamental right of every Afghan citizen and will continue its activities in line with the realization of this essential human value. We believe that in order to achieve a developed and prosperous Afghanistan, it is essential that social justice and human dignity be granted and all citizens of the country, women and men, could have access to education, are allowed to work, and become active members of the society.

Thus, the Institute calls on all citizens of Afghanistan from all ethnic and social groups, inside and outside of the country, to coordinate their efforts toward realization of the right to education for girls and women in Afghanistan. Furthermore, our request from German state, the European Union, and the United Nations is to take concrete actions and fulfill their responsibilities regarding the assurance of the fundamental rights of Afghan citizens, particularly of women, girls, and children so that the schools and higher education institutes of the country be reopened to all students, regardless of their gender.  

21 December 2022