As universities in Afghanistan remain closed to female students, thousands of young women around the country are dealing with a string of emotions, ranging from hopelessness to sadness – due to the Taliban’s discriminatory policies.
Education is a basic human right that should be accessible to everyone, but the Taliban has shut down higher educational institutions for girls since December.
The story of each of these girls is a story of sadness and regret, showing the challenges they have faced and how their education has been compromised.
One student, 21-year-old Basira Mohammadi, was studying at Kabul University’s Faculty of Engineering until the Taliban took away her freedom to continue.
The girls are now left with a bleak future, and they plead with the international community to take action against the Taliban’s discriminatory policies so as to ensure a better tomorrow.
Soheila Hamid, another student, said: “Society should take a serious stance for women and girls and shouldn’t settle for statements or directives.”
For the last two years, the Taliban has denied girls above the sixth-grade access to education.
Last year, universities also closed down, keeping girls from attending. Afghanistan’s women are now prohibited from working in non-governmental organizations, including UN offices.
The United Nations Human Rights Report recently disclosed that the Taliban has issued over 50 orders to restrict women and girls’ freedom in Afghanistan. As long as universities and schools for girls remain closed, more female students will continue to speak up for their right to basic education.
