"Taliban Allows Girls to Attend School, Reverses Policy on First Day of New Semester"

Female Students Crying 'Home' Just Hours After Going to School

Female students residing in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, are attending school on the first day of the new semester on the 23rd (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Jeong-wan] The Taliban, the ruling power in Afghanistan that had declared it would fully allow middle and high school girls to attend school, reversed its stance on the first day of the new semester.

According to foreign media including AFP and Bakhtar on the 23rd (local time), the Taliban Ministry of Education announced on the first day of the new semester that "girls' schools will remain closed until a separate plan is prepared in accordance with Islamic law and Afghan culture."

The Ministry of Education added, "Schools will reopen after government leaders make decisions regarding the dress code for female students," and "This dress code will follow Sharia (Islamic law) and Afghan traditions."

According to AFP, when asked whether it was true that female students were told to return home just hours after attending school, Taliban spokesperson Inamulah Samangani replied, "Yes."

Since taking control of the Afghan regime in August last year, the Taliban has gradually allowed students to attend school but has prohibited girls in grade 7 and above from attending.

In this regard, the Taliban had repeatedly stated that they would open schools to all middle and high school girls starting late this month, and Ministry of Education spokesperson Aziz Ahmad Rayan reaffirmed this on the 17th.

Female students were sent home just hours after attending school. AFP reported that at a high school in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, a teacher entered the classroom during class and announced, "Class is over," and the girls packed their belongings and left the classroom in tears.

Kabul teacher Palwasha told AFP, "I had to see students who were crying and reluctant to leave the classroom," adding, "It was very heartbreaking."

Deborah Lyons, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, criticized the Taliban's move on her Twitter, calling it shocking and asking, "What possible reason could there be?"

During their first rule (1996?2001), the Taliban strictly banned girls' education and employment under the banner of Sharia. After regaining power in August last year, they announced several conciliatory measures such as forming an inclusive government and respecting human rights to gain recognition from the international community, but many of these promises have not been properly kept.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.