Taliban Minister Flees Afghanistan After Defying Ban on Girls’ Education
- Douglas Kimathi
- Feb 4
- 2 min read
N. Douglas Kimathi, Jadetimes News
In a significant development, Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, the Taliban's deputy foreign minister, has reportedly fled Afghanistan following his public support for girls' education. During a speech at a graduation ceremony in Khost province on January 20, Stanikzai criticized the Taliban government's ban on girls attending secondary and higher education, stating that there is no justification for such restrictions. He emphasized that in the time of the Prophet Muhammad, both men and women had access to education.
Following his remarks, Taliban's supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, allegedly ordered Stanikzai's arrest and imposed a travel ban on him. In response, Stanikzai confirmed his departure to the United Arab Emirates, citing health reasons. This incident highlights the ongoing internal tensions within the Taliban leadership regarding policies on women's rights and education.
Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan have been significantly restricted, sparking international concern. The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor recently sought arrest warrants for the Taliban's supreme leader and Afghanistan's chief justice, accusing them of crimes against humanity for their actions against women and girls.
In a rare public rebuke, another senior Taliban figure, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, called on the group's leadership to end the ban on education for women and girls in Afghanistan. He stated that there is no excuse for such restrictions, emphasizing that denying half of the population their education rights is a significant injustice not supported by Islamic law.
The international community continues to pressure the Taliban to reverse these policies and restore the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan. Organizations such as the United Nations and various human rights groups have condemned the bans and called for immediate action to ensure equal access to education for all Afghans.
As the situation evolves, the world watches closely, hoping for a shift in the Taliban's stance on women's rights and education. The actions of figures like Stanikzai and Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai may indicate a potential internal movement within the Taliban advocating for change, though the outcome remains uncertain.
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