The Taliban continues its misogynistic gender apartheid

topic:	Women's rights
located:	Afghanistan
editor:	Shadi Khan Saif

The Taliban’s inhumane ban on girls’ education as part of their institutionalisation of gender-apartheid is no less than a crime against humanity, and therefore calls for the world to deal with it swiftly and sternly while engaging the group in Afghanistan.

Cries full of deep sorrow were heard all over school campuses in the war-ravaged country when the group’s Minister of Higher Education Nadeem Nadim dropped the news of an all-out ban on girls’ attendance at universities or higher education institutions. This was another major blow to the already devastated women of Afghanistan reeling from the ban on younger girls’ schools and the stripping of their space in all aspects of public life since the Taliban grabbed power in August 2021.

Several days after the announcement, Nadim remorselessly came out to defend his widely condemnable move with various explanations, all centering around a misogynistic mentality of viewing women as sexual objects that can be exploited. He and most Taliban leaders are ruling with a biassed mentality that prevent them from comprehending the importance of respecting women's roles in Afghanistan, at the personal and governmental levels.

This lack of care or awareness on the importance of respecting human rights has plunged Afghanistan into a humanitarian crisis, paralysing half of the population and threatening the survival of the country.

The Taliban’s minister of HIgher Education must realise that victim shaming and locking people in their homes will not address their perceived immorality of society, but instituting regulations and provisions for justice and fairness will make the country more stable. Instead, the Taliban has begun public executions without ensuring justice or providing fair opportunities for everyone.

Afghanistan's male academic figures and students have taken a just and timely decision by saying NO and stepping down in protest. The Taliban, with their ignorant policies, can hardly govern without the local support and foreign aid - but it remains to be seen if they will care.

Photo by Akshay Chauhan

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