Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has reportedly ordered a ban on girls receiving religious education in madrasas, adding to the existing restrictions on their schooling.
According to Afghan media, two Taliban ministers revealed that the order was given during a cabinet meeting held two weeks ago. They said the Taliban chief argued that it was not permissible under Sharia for women to attend madrasas for religious education.
Akhundzada reportedly justified his stance by saying that even during the era of the third caliphate, women were not allowed to attend mosques. Therefore, he claimed, girls studying religion in madrasas could not be considered correct.
Another minister confirmed that many cabinet members were disappointed by the statement but avoided openly expressing disagreement. A source from Kandahar added that no minister has yet challenged the Taliban chief’s position.
Several Taliban leaders and clerics had earlier hoped that girls’ schools would reopen this year. However, this new restriction on religious education has deepened concerns. One minister argued that the stance contradicts the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah, which stress that religious education is obligatory for both men and women.
Another Taliban official warned that continued bans on women could destabilize Afghanistan and possibly create conditions for conflict.
The Taliban government has not officially confirmed or denied the report. Details of the Taliban chief’s activities, including cabinet meetings, are generally kept secret.
Since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghan women and girls have been barred from secondary schools, universities, and private educational institutions. The new restriction on religious education adds to these limitations.
Meanwhile, global powers continue to link the release of Afghanistan’s frozen assets and aid to ensuring women’s rights, including access to education and employment.
In other news read more about Afghan Women Face New Restrictions: “One Eye Is Enough to See”
