Deputy Foreign Minister calls for opening of girls’ schools

KABUL (TOLOnews): The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs at a meeting held on “International Tourism Day” said there are no Islam-based reasons for banning education for girls and there is no excuse for girls’ schools to remain closed.
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai added that the closure of schools for girls over 6th grade creates a distance between the government and people.
“Education for both men and women is obligatory and here are some Ulema members, no one can deny it, and no one has an Islamic reason for closing schools for girls. We have hundreds of Ulema here and everyone agrees with the reopening of schools for girls, so we want to reopen schools for everyone in Afghanistan,” said Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Meanwhile the acting Minister of Vice and Virtue said education is permissible for women.
“Education is permissible, but when there is a conflict between the permissible and the leader, the order of the leader is obligatory, and education for men is also permissible,” said Khalid Hanafi, the acting Minister of Vice and Virtue.
Some political analysts believe that there are different opinions and views at play regarding the reopening girls’ schools.
“Urban and rural views should be resolved, unfortunately, these two have always been in conflict. We hope that these views will be unified for the future of Afghanistan,” said Sayed Qaribullah Sadat, political analyst.
Some girls called on the government to reopen schools as soon as possible.
“We call on the Ministry of Education to reopen schools for girls. Students are hopeless,” said Sana, a student.
Meanwhile, opinions about the fate of girls’ schools in the country are being raised with the new minister, Mawlawi Habibullah Agha, who has been appointed the acting Minister of Education.