Concerns over women’s education: UN envoy meets Minister for Higher Education

KABUL (TOLOnews): Acting Minister of Higher Education Neda Mohammad Nadim in a meeting with the UN deputy special envoy for Afghanistan, Markus Potzel, said that the Islamic Emirate has not decided on an absolute ban on women’s education, but has postponed the issue due to external factors.
Nadim added that the Islamic Emirate does not accept anyone’s demands through pressure.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Higher Education that UNAMA’s deputy promised that he will help in the development of Afghanistan’s higher education and has also shared a plan for the continuation of women’s education with the higher education minister.
“The Minister said that we are committed to the rights of all Afghan people in light of Sharia and we want a good interaction with the entire world in the field of education. We ask the international community to never make a request from us that is in conflict with Sharia,” said Ziaullah Hashemi, the ministry’s spokesman.
According to the Ministry of Higher Education, the acting education minister has assured the UNAMA deputy that the ministry is committed to upholding the country’s citizens’ right to an education.
Meanwhile, a well-known scholar from Turkey, in a meeting with the higher education minister, said that the ban on girls’ education is unacceptable.
“I’m telling you this as your friend in science because this issue hides all of your goodness. No level of sensitivity can justify a generation’s ignorance. You may say that this is our internal issue and that nobody should speak out about it, but now it has become the problem of all Muslims,” said Mohammed Gormaz, President of the Institute of Islamic Thought (Turkey).
Some female students who are deprived of going to school said that they are worried about their future and urged the Islamic Emirate to reopen their schools.
“They should reopen schools for girls. So that we can reach all our dreams and goals in life and serve our country,” said Marwa Bela, a student.
“At first, girls were banned from schools; later, they were banned from universities and other educational institutions. Without educated women, society would definitely not advance or become self-sufficient,” said Muqadas Noori, another student.
The Ministry of Higher Education banned women from going to universities and other higher education institutions about three weeks ago, provoking reactions at national and international levels.