Women barred from attending universities in Afghanistan under Taliban rule

Dec. 20 (UPI) -- The Taliban announced a ban on women in Afghanistan universities Tuesday -- the latest move to restrict the educational freedoms of women and girls since taking power last year.

Hafiz Hashimi, spokesperson for the Taliban's Ministry of Education, tweeted that education for women is "suspended until further notice."

According to the order, women at private and state universities are no longer allowed to attend, effective immediately. The same restrictions were applied under Taliban rule nearly 30 years ago.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Robert Wood called the move "indefensible."

"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," Wood said.

The Taliban rose back to power in Afghanistan in 2021, shortly after the United States withdrew troops from the country and the militant group retook the capital city Kabul. Activists warned that the Taliban's rise back to power would be a threat to human rights, especially for women.

Almost immediately after establishing control of Afghanistan, the Taliban implemented rules to restrict the right to education from girls as early as sixth grade.

"This cruel and blatantly misogynist measure makes clear the Taliban's utter disregard for the women and girls of Afghanistan," said Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken condemned the decision by the Taliban in a statement as one that "will come with consequences."

"No other country in the world bars women and girls from receiving an education. The Taliban's repressive edicts have resulted in inexcusable restrictions on Afghan women and girls, including on their access to schools."

Blinken said the Middle Eastern country already loses out on more than $1 billion a year in contributions from women to the economy, with those losses expected to worsen.

"The Taliban cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all in Afghanistan," he said, adding, "No country can thrive when half of its population is held back."

The United Nations were also quick to condemn the move with chief Antonio Guterres saying it violates the equal rights of women and girls and Alison Davidian, U.N. Women representative to Afghanistan, stating today is "another dark day" for the country.

"The Taliban's latest decision banning women from attending university is a direct attack on Afghanistan's future," she tweeted. "The right to education for all must be restored immediately."

The International Rescue Committee added that the ban is a "chilling step backwards" for the the country as it continues to experience a brain drain.

"Efforts to rebuild Afghanistan in the wake of economic collapse will be undermined completely; many educated Afghans have already left the country over the last 18 months," it tweeted. "Afghanistan is in urgent need of a future generation of doctors, teachers and civil servants."

Heavy restrictions against women and girls extend beyond the world of education. In November, women were banned from parks, gyms and swimming pools. The BBC reported there is some disagreement within the Taliban in regards to girls' rights to education, with some officials pushing to protect that right.