KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban have extended their restrictions on girls’ education in Afghanistan, banning girls above the sixth grade from attending private educational centers in the western province of Herat.
In a letter dated December 24, the Taliban’s director of education in Herat cited a directive from Hibatullah Akhundzada, the Taliban’s supreme leader, ordering the prohibition of education for girls beyond the sixth grade in private centers “until further notice.”
The letter was sent to the department for teacher training, district education offices in Injil and Guzara, the Taliban’s intelligence directorate, and the union of private educational centers in Herat.
In this letter, authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce the ban.
Mounting restrictions
Girls in Herat expressed frustration and despair over the escalating restrictions imposed by the Taliban. Many criticized the international community for remaining largely silent in the face of what they described as a systematic erosion of their rights.
“The world is just watching as our rights are taken away,” one young woman said.
This latest ban is part of a broader campaign of restrictions targeting women and girls in Afghanistan since the Taliban regained power in 2021. Girls have already been barred from attending schools beyond the sixth grade and universities. Women have also been prohibited from working with non-governmental organizations, effectively removing them from public and professional life.
On December 2, the Taliban further tightened their grip on women’s rights, banning girls and women from pursuing medical education. The move drew sharp criticism from rights groups and the international community, who warned that Afghanistan’s already fragile healthcare system would suffer severe consequences from the exclusion of women.
The Taliban’s actions have sparked widespread condemnation, both domestically and globally, yet they have shown no signs of reversing its policies.
Despite international pressure, including calls for sanctions and demands for the Taliban to respect human rights, they have doubled down on its hard-line stance, leaving women and girls with increasingly limited options for education and employment.
