Taliban forbids women to attend universities in Afghanistan

The Taliban government in Afghanistan yesterday suspended women from attending universities in the country, further restricting women’s freedom and rights. The ban went into effect immediately, and Taliban security forces on Wednesday blocked women from entering university campuses. Members of the activist group Unity and Solidarity of Afghanistan Women gathered in Kabul to protest the new regulation. Foreign governments and the United Nations have condemned the restrictions, and the move could dampen the Taliban’s efforts to gain favorable international recognition.

What other restrictions do women face in Afghanistan? The Taliban originally promised to respect women and minorities’ rights after seizing power in August 2021, but the government has since implemented Islamic Sharia law. Girls were banned in March from returning to secondary schools, and women are prohibited from parks and gyms. Women are also required to be clothed from head to foot while in public and are excluded from most employment options.

Dig deeper: Listen to Paul Butler’s story on The World and Everything in It podcast about the American withdrawal from Afghanistan.