Religious Fundamentalism And Female Education: Is Pakistan's Riyasat-e-Madina Just Afghanistan?

Religious fundamentalists and ultra-conservative groups—most prominently represented by the leadership of the Taliban—frame their worldview around a concept of absolute moral preservation. When confronted with the historic blueprint of an Islamic state, their rhetoric completely shifts from the progressive concepts of a welfare state to focus entirely on purity, cultural protection, and anti-Western isolationism.

Why Fundamentalists Glorify Afghanistan and Reject the West

A study conducted by The American Academy of Arts and Sciences reports, “The first and seemingly instinctive reaction of the Muslims to the challenge of the West was to withdraw from the mainstream of contemporary developments and to seek comfort in Islam’s past glory. They sought to reassert the cultural traditions derived from their religion and “clung tenaciously . . . to the memory of a brilliant civilization which, in their eyes, was irreplaceable by anything the West had to offer.”

A religious fundamentalist, in his views, glorifies Afghanistan, in a way that the ideal Muslim state that he describes is a description of none other than modern day Afghanistan.

Why Do the Taliban Ban Female Education?

They argue that Islam has given women their rights, but to them education for women is a purely Western phenomenon. Instead of openly stating that education is inherently evil, leadership argues that the current environment is unsafe or un-Islamic.They cite issues like mixed-gender environments, inappropriate curricula (such as engineering or agriculture for women), and improper dress codes as reasons for bans. They claim bans are “temporary” until a completely “pure, Sharia-compliant environment” can be built—a moving goalpost used to stall indefinitely.

What Does Early Islamic History Say About Women’s Education?

However, during the foundational period of Islamic history, the approach to female education was highly progressive for its time, directly contradicting the modern rules enforced by groups like the Taliban.

According to a research study by Al-Marjan, “Prophet ﷺ established several centers for women’s education, including homes, mosques, Eid gatherings, and separate and mixed assemblies, catering to different needs”

Is Keeping Women at Home Protection or Oppression?

High-ranking fundamentalist clerics argue that a woman’s true religious obligation is strictly limited to domestic and child-rearing duties They argue that modern systems are inherently corrupted by secularism. In their view, keeping women at home and being heavily restricted is not “oppression” but ultimate “protection”.

How Does Saudi Arabia Compare With Afghanistan on Women’s Education?

The reality in Saudi Arabia is stark compared to Afghanistan. In 2026 Saudi Arabian women attend schools, universities, and study abroad with state funding. They comprise of 35 percent of the workforce. In the 20th century, although Saudi Arabia was a deeply restrictive, ultra-conservative society, it still maintained a functioning, state-funded system for female development that the Taliban completely outlaws. The state wanted women educated, but in completely separate buildings, working only in “gender-appropriate” sectors like teaching or female medicine.

Saudi Arabia had the hyper-segregation that religious fundamentalists wanted, but the reality is that it’s just an excuse.

What Is Afghanistan’s Female Literacy Rate?

Afghanistan’s female literacy rate stands at approximately 22.6% to 27% for adult women (ages 15 and older), making it one of the absolute lowest female literacy rates in the world, and Pakistani religious fundamentalists are not at all shy to admit that they do not desire women to be educated.