As the Taliban faces widespread criticism over banning women from Afghanistan universities, it has defended its decision, stating that female students were not following instructions, including a proper dress code.
Taliban's minister for higher education Nida Mohammad Nadim said the ban was necessary to prevent the mixing of genders in universities and because he believes some subjects being taught in universities violated the principles of Islam.
"Unfortunately after the passing of 14 months, the instructions of the Ministry of Higher Education of the Islamic Emirate regarding the education of women were not implemented," Nadeem said in an interview on state television.
Another reason he cited for the university ban was women’s failure to observe a dress code. "We told girls to have proper hijab, but they didn’t and they wore dresses like they are going to a wedding ceremony," he said. "Girls were studying agriculture and engineering, but this didn’t match Afghan culture. Girls should learn, but not in areas that go against Islam and Afghan honor."
The minister claimed the Taliban was fixing these issues and the universities would reopen for women once they were resolved. However, they had claimed the same about high school access for girls, saying classes would resume for them once "technical issues" around uniforms and transport were sorted out. However, nothing changed yet.
This is despite the Taliban promising a softer rule when they seized power.
Meanwhile, the ban has drawn global backlash, including Muslim countries. The G-7 group of states urged the Taliban to rescind the ban, warning that "gender persecution may amount to a crime against humanity." The foreign ministers of G-7 countries warned after a virtual meeting that "Taliban policies designed to erase women from public life will have consequences for how our countries engage with the Taliban."
Saudi Arabia too expressed "astonishment and regret" at the ban as it called on the Taliban to reverse it. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu too said the ban was "neither Islamic nor humane."
"What harm is there in women’s education? What harm does it do to Afghanistan?" Cavusoglu said. "Is there an Islamic explanation? On the contrary, our religion, Islam, is not against education, on the contrary, it encourages education and science."
However, Nadeem seemed unfazed, stating the international community should "not interfere in Afghanistan's internal affairs".
Meanwhile, protests erupted in Kabul as women marched in the streets chanting in Dari for "freedom and equality. “All or none. Don’t be afraid. We are together." they chanted.
According to westen media reports, some women who protested were beaten and whipped by military who were brought by the authorities.