Ban on Women’s education and work is “Extremism” Not “Moderation”: Women

DID Press: Reacting to the suspension of women’s work and education, a number of Afghan girls and women say that such an approach is “extremism” and that a path of moderation should be taken instead.

reporter: Rasool Shahzad – DID Press Agency
Abdulhaq Hamad, who heads the Ta-liban’s directorate of monitoring media outlets under the ministry of information and culture, has recently said that a complete ban on girls’ education is extremism.
“Completely prohibiting the education of girls is extremism, and leaving it “unframed” is also not suitable,” tweeted Abdulhaq Hammad.

The Taliban have recently banned girls from participating in the entrance exams for private universities.
However, a number of girls and women say that learning is mandatory for every man and woman, and there is no obstacle to women’s education in Sharia.
“It is good that Taliban officials have realized that these restrictions on Afghan women and girls are excessive,” Soraya Husaini, a medical student, told DID Press. “We are all Muslims, and learning is obligatory for every man and woman, and the Islamic Emirate, which claims Islamic sovereignty, must pave the ground for women’s education and work according to the Islamic framework.”

She demanded the Islamic Emirate not go to the extreme, but provide ground for women’s education and work within the framework of Sharia and Islamic principles.
“The role of women in the social, political, and economic development of a country is vital, and this would be possible once women – as the main force in a society – have the opportunity to work and study,” Ms. Husaini added.
She asks the Islamic Emirate to take a moderate approach and give Afghan women and girls the right to work and education, which are the most basic human rights.
Sara Hajizada, a student, says that observing the hijab in Islamic society is divine and all women observe the hijab not because of the Ta-liban but because of the Islamic laws, and the Islamic Emirate should provide education and work for Muslim women.

“The future of Afghanistan needs literate women and mothers, not illiterate women, literate women and mothers can contribute to social growth and development,” she added.
This is despite the fact that after more than a year and a half of Taliban rule in Afghanistan, school gates are closed to girls above the sixth grade. In addition, the Taliban in yet another measure banned girls from going to universities, saying that no woman has the right to work in non-governmental institutions.

Roqya Hossaini, another girl, told DID Press that “although there were some shortcomings in the past, now that the Islamic Emirate says that it is an Islamic establishment, it should provide education and work for women based on the orders of the Islamic religion.”

“In the previous government, some were under the influence of America. The Taliban should not close schools and universities to women because of this, they should adopt a moderate path based on Islamic teachings,” she added.

On the other hand, Alidad Alizada, an expert on religious issues, told DID Press that “according to Islam, learning is obligatory and it is obligatory for both men and women”.
“The Holy Qur’an, the book of Muslims, emphasised the importance of science and knowledge. It is stated that those who know and those who do not know are not equal, this shows that learning is obligatory for both man and woman,” he said. “We are in contact with the officials of the Islamic Emirate and they also believe in the education and training of women. The closure of schools and universities is temporary. The Taliban officials have said that they have a plan and a solution. We hope the Islamic Emirate, having a detailed understanding of Islam’s right to education, pave the ground for education to half of the society,” he added.

According to him, The Islamic Emirate must provide a safe environment for women to work, learn, and study.

Alizada further said that there is a difference of opinion between the officials of the Taliban and that this difference of opinion is on the educational system. In general, none of the officials of the Islamic Emirate want the closure of schools and universities.