Protests in Afghanistan after closure of universities
2022.12.22 07:50
Protests in Afghanistan after closure of universities
Budrigannews.com – Thursday marked the first significant public demonstration in the capital since the Taliban’s decision to deny female students access to universities. Dozens of women gathered outside Kabul University to protest.
The Taliban-run administration announced on Tuesday that women would be expelled from tertiary education, and as a result, female university students were prevented from entering the campuses the day before.
Witnesses claim that about fifty mostly female protesters gathered with banners and chanted, ” Universities ought to open because we have the right to education.
The administration led by the Taliban had already come under fire, including from governments in other countries, for not opening girls’ high schools before the start of the school year in March, despite giving indications that it would do so.
According to diplomats, the Taliban-led administration’s efforts to gain formal recognition and lift economic sanctions are being hampered by a backlash against restrictions on female education.
Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, there haven’t been many large-scale protests because security forces often use force to stop them. The discontent generated by the Taliban’s policy can be seen in the scattered protests that have taken place.
In recent days, the Afghan capital has seen a significant security presence, including at university gatherings.
The minister of Afghanistan’s higher education ministry will hold a press conference on Thursday or Friday to “explain more on the closure of universities for women,” according to a spokesperson.
The day before, male medical students walked out of exams to protest the exclusion of their female classmates at Nangahar University in eastern Afghanistan.
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Zia, a male medical student at Nangahar who is 25 years old, stated, “The female students came and asked (the male students) not to sit exams as we are not allowed to.” The male understudies showed boldness and left the test site.”
