Taliban official calls for lifting ban on women’s education

Afghanistan’s deputy foreign ministry director Sher Abbas Stanikzai has called for the lifting of the ban, saying there is no reason to ban women and girls from getting an education. “We once again call on the leadership to open the doors of education. We are doing injustice to 20 million out of 40 million people by depriving them of all their rights. This is not according to Islamic law, but a result of our personal choice or nature,” Stanikzai said.

The Taliban leader has banned girls from receiving education beyond the sixth grade. In September last year, the government also suspended medical education and courses for women.