Former President Hamid Karzai on Tuesday used Afghanistan’s Independence Day to once again call for the reopening of schools and universities for girls, saying national strength depends on education for all.
“Freedom and independence lie in national strength, and national strength is achieved through unity and an educated workforce,” Karzai said in a statement marking the 106th anniversary of Afghanistan’s independence from Britain.
He stressed that Afghanistan can only build a capable and educated population if equal access to education is provided to both boys and girls. He added that national understanding is essential for unity and to prevent foreign interference.
Since returning to power in 2021, the Taliban have barred girls from attending schools beyond sixth grade and have closed universities to women, a policy that has drawn strong criticism from Muslim scholars, Islamic countries and international organizations.
Religious scholars in Afghanistan and abroad have called the Taliban ban inconsistent with Islamic teachings, but they have not changed its stance.
