International reactions to postponement of girls’ schools in Afghanistan

KABUL (Khaama Press): The postponement of girls’ classes upper than grade 6 has not only triggered reactions inside Afghanistan but also out of the country.
Ministry of Education of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on Wednesday morning announced that girls upper than grade six will not be allowed to attend classes at a time when millions of girls across Afghanistan went to their respective schools only to find they are not allowed to go in.
Save the Children in a Twitter post said that they were heartbroken for the adolescent girls across Afghanistan who were being denied their right to education.
“The continued ban on girls’ secondary education is appalling. We urge the authorities to reverse this decision and ensure schools for girls open immediately guarantee the right to education for all.” Reads the Tweet.
Amnesty International announced to be concerned about the news of the Taliban and termed the announcement disturbing as the UNAMA deplored the announcement.
“The UN in Afghanistan deplores today’s reported announcement by the Taliban that they are further extending their indefinite ban on female students above the 6th grade being permitted to return school.” Reads the Twitter post of UNAMA.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway in a Tweet said, “Very disappointed by reports that Taliban’s leadership continues to ban girls from secondary education in #Afghanistan. It undermines trust in their promises. All Afghan girls have a universal right to education.”
Germany’s ambassador to Afghanistan Markus Putzel also joined those who reacted to the move by the Taliban and wrote on his Twitter post that the instruction was contradicting previous announcements made by Afghanistan’s de facto authorities.
“These instructions are contradicting previous announcements made by the AFG de facto authorities, they are violating international conventions which AFG has subscribed to – the commitment to guarantee the right to education for all.” Putzel wrote on Twitter.
US special representatives for Afghanistan Thomas West and Afghan women Reena Amiri said this was betrayal of public commitments to the Afghan people and the international community and that the decision will weaken the Taliban.
“For the sake of the country’s future and its relations with the international community, I would urge the Taliban to live up to their commitments to their people.” Thomas West said on his Twitter.
“The reported failure to open schools for girls above grade 6 across the country not only weakens confidence in the Taliban commitments but further dashes the hopes of families for a better future for their daughters.” This is how Amiri wrote in Twitter post.
Inside Afghanistan, several Taliban officials, pro-Taliban figures, Former Afghan president Hamid Karzai and head of former peace council Abdullah Abdullah also reacted to the declaration and deplored it.