Taliban Reopen Universities to Women

(UnitedReader.com) – After the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan as a result of Biden’s botched withdrawal of US troops from the region, the world watched and waited. Many in the international community showed concern that Afghanistan would return to the way it was under previous Taliban rule. However, the Taliban seems to be taking a different approach this time.

After taking over Afghanistan once again, the Taliban promised it would respect the rights of women. That didn’t last long as they banned females from schools and forced them to wear certain clothes. Surprisingly, the Taliban seems to have performed an about-face and is beginning to reopen higher education for women.

The Taliban have reopened public universities for women students in six of Afghanistan’s 34 provinces, including Helmand, Nangarhar and Kandahar, in a move marking a major concession to international demands by the country’s new rulers. By @TameemAkhgar. https://t.co/DVpH7NcK7D

— AP Middle East (@APMiddleEast) February 2, 2022

A total of six provinces out of the country’s 34 will allow women to attend higher education: Farah, Nimroz, Helmand, Laghman, Nangarhar and Kandahar. The six regions have warmer climates compared to the rest of Afghanistan, which the Taliban asserted is the reason they opened first.

Khairullah Khairkhwa, the Taliban-appointed culture and information minister, stated that both Islamic and modern education can lead the country out of poverty. Despite women being able to attend these universities, they will only be able to go during the afternoon, following males who will attend in the morning in accordance with the Taliban’s strict gender segregation.

The United Nations rejoiced, calling the announcement an important step for the country, asserting it was important for all young people to receive higher education. The move is certainly contrasting previous Taliban rule where women had very little, if any, rights. Perhaps this is a sign that the Taliban is going to stay true to its word.