Clerics Oppose Minister’s Remarks on Women’s Education

A day after the acting minister of higher education, Neda Mohammad Nadim, appeared in a TV interview, highlighting reasons for the closure of universities for women in the country, many religious scholars opposed his statement and said such views could not be accepted.

Speaking to RTA, Nadim outlined four reasons for the closure of universities for female students.

He said the presence of women at dormitories and their arrival from provinces without male companions, lack of observation of hijab by students, the continuation of co-education, and the existence of some faculties for girls are in contrast with the “Islamic law and Afghan pride.”

The religious scholars asked the Islamic Emirate to reopen universities for women.

“The presence of women in separate dormitories under the leadership of the Ministry of Higher Education is never against the Islamic sharia,” said Fazl Hadi Wazin, a member of the international religious scholars’ council. “Nowhere has it been mentioned in the Sharia that women cannot live in separate dormitories and safe places. Such a thing has never been in Islamic sharia.”

“The closure of university can inflict a heavy damage to the future and nation of Afghanistan,” said Mohsin Hossieni, a religious scholar.

Female students also expressed their concerns over the suspension of higher education for them and asked the Islamic Emirate to “immediately” reopen universities.

“What is our sin? We want our rights from the Islamic Emirate. We have studied with many hardships. What will happen to our future? They should consider our future,” said Hosna Sahibzada, a student.

“We have prepared ourselves in accordance with their law. Now they that they are in power, it is better for them not to close the universities,” said Shkullah Amiri, a student.

“I hope the Taliban will reconsider their order and let the doors of the universities be reopened for male and female students,” said Suraya Paikan, a women’s rights activist.