KABUL, Afghanistan — Former President Hamid Karzai in a statement on Monday once again urged the Taliban to immediately reopen schools and universities for girls, marking his latest in a series of appeals to prioritize female education.
Karzai welcomed the declaration of the Muslim World League conference in Islamabad, which underscored the importance of addressing barriers to girls’ education in the Islamic world. He called on the Taliban to heed these principles and act swiftly to restore hope for Afghanistan’s future.
Karzai reiterated that denying girls access to education is both unjustifiable and harmful to Afghanistan’s national interests.
“Education is an unquestionable and inalienable right for Afghan girls,” Karzai said. “Preventing them from attending school contradicts the national interests and higher objectives of our country.”
He expressed concern about the policy’s impact on Afghanistan’s future, emphasizing that reopening educational institutions is vital for empowering the nation’s youth, fostering self-reliance, and reducing the growing exodus of Afghans seeking opportunities abroad.
“By denying girls education, we are undermining the stability of society, the strength of families, and the development of the country,” he said.
Taliban have banned women and girls from secondary schools and universities. Women are also banned from medical education as well as working in non-governmental organizations.
