UN Special envoy meets local leaders, women

KABUL (Tolo News): The UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons met with the representatives of local women and “Taliban representatives” in Mazar-e-Sharif, according to UNAMA. Lyons called for “upholding all Afghan’s rights, especially women & girls, inclusive governance and a genuine reconciliation process is critical for stability, domestic legitimacy & international confidence,” UNAMA said in a tweet.
This comes as the Islamic Emirate’s Political Office in Qatar said it has formed a commission regarding the reopening of girls’ schools. “I have just received information today that a committee is set up particularly for this issue to resolve it and I hope this issue is resolved at the earliest,” said Suhail Shaheen, head of the office.
Meanwhile, female students above grade six said that they have become hopeless about their future. Sofia, a student of grade eight said that she is currently working as a tailor since schools were closed. “Knowledge is a brightness. When there is no knowledge in a country, the country is in darkness. We are in darkness since the Islamic Emirate came to power,” she said.
“I don’t go to the school now. I am at home. The Islamic Emirate doesn’t allow us to go. They demand hijab and we accomplished it. We have obeyed every order of them (Islamic Emirate), so let us go to school,” said Firoza, a student. Analysts believe that banning girls from going to the school affects the country’s future.
“Opposing education is against development and a peaceful and stable life,” said Parwiz Khalili, a university instructor. The caretaker government has repeatedly said it will hold a gathering to decide the fate of the girls’ students beyond grade six but there have been no details about the date of the gathering.
“The issue will be solved at some point based on Islamic regulations and consideration of the leadership,” said Bilal Karimi, deputy spokesman for the Islamic Emirate. This comes as former President Hamid Karzai in a meeting with the UN special envoy for Afghanistan, Deborah Lyons, called for the reopening of girls’ schools.