Pakistani Clerics Condemn Taliban Ban on Girls’ Education as Un-Islamic

DID Press: Pakistani organization of Islamic scholars issued a statement urging the Taliban government to reopen educational institutions for girls and lift restrictive policies.

Led by Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head of the Jamaat-e-Islami Scholars, Pakistani clerics criticized the Taliban for depriving girls of education and called for the immediate reopening of schools and universities to female students.

The statement issued after the meeting emphasized that educating both girls and boys is a “religious duty,” and continued restrictions on girls’ education harm society, future generations, and Afghanistan’s international standing.

The clerics stressed that maintaining the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan is “against Islamic principles” and must be lifted as soon as possible.

This declaration comes in response to Taliban policies that, after returning to power, have kept schools above grade six, universities, and higher education institutions closed to female students.

The statement also urged the Taliban to prevent Afghan territory from being used for terrorist attacks against Pakistan and to resolve regional disputes through dialogue and restraint.

Participants in the meeting further declared armed struggle and militant activity inside Pakistan as both religiously and legally impermissible.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, while criticizing recent Pakistani attacks on Afghan territory, emphasized that border tensions must be resolved through dialogue and peaceful engagement.

Tensions between Islamabad and the Afghan Taliban have escalated following Pakistani strikes on various regions in Afghanistan, leading to deadly border clashes.

Pakistan accuses the Taliban government of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants, which the Taliban deny, though UN reports confirm the presence of Pakistani insurgents in Afghanistan.