Afghanistan’s Taliban prohibits women from attending universities

According to the BBC, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has announced the closure of women’s universities.

The higher education minister stated in a letter that the move is temporary and will take effect immediately.

Women’s access to formal education is further restricted, as they are already barred from most secondary schools.

According to one Kabul University student, she has been crying since hearing the news.

Following the Taliban’s takeover of the country’s leadership last year, universities instituted gender-segregated classrooms and entrances, where only female students could be taught by female professors or elderly men.

The latest measures are expected to raise more concerns in the international community.

“The Taliban cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all Afghans, especially the human rights and fundamental freedom of women and girls,” said Robert Wood, US Deputy UN Ambassador.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan’s education sector, and there has been an exodus of trained academics since the withdrawal of US-led forces last year.