Protests Emerge In Afghanistan Regarding The Issue Of Reopening Schools For Girls
The Taliban have been extensively chastised for making a last-minute decision to close schools earlier this week, barely hours after students arrived for the start of the new academic year.
“Education is our right! Open the doors of girls’ schools!” the demonstrators screamed in front of the armed Taliban fighters.
“When it comes to standing up for freedom and the girls who want to go to school, I’m willing to die.” one female instructor told the BBC.
“We are here for the rights of our daughters to get an education. Without that right, we might as well be dead already.”
The Taliban had previously broken up protests and imprisoned those who participated, but the protest was permitted to continue this time.
Girls’ primary schools in much of the country, as well as all boys’ schools, have stayed open since the group took power last August, but older girls have not been permitted back in the classroom.
The Taliban’s Ministry of Education had announced that girls’ secondary schools would reopen on Wednesday, but the group’s central leadership rejected the decision, saying they may remain closed until a “comprehensive” and “Islamic” plan for them was developed.
An outpouring of anguish erupted as a result of the decision. Afghans have started posting videos on social media of students crying after returning home early from what they thought was their first day back at school.
During a discussion on the topic, a presenter on the famous Tolo TV channel struggled to fight back his tears.
The Taliban’s decision was regarded as “profoundly disturbing” by officials from ten countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, in a joint statement released on Friday.
Meetings with the group were supposed to take place in Qatar but were canceled by the US States Department.
The Taliban’s erratic policy shift is likely due to internal conflicts between headline and moderate Taliban factions.
Local Taliban leaders have allowed young girls to continue their education in some districts, particularly in northern Afghanistan, but others appear to be opposed to the idea.
“I want our generation to be free and to flourish, not just to shed tears at home” one demonstrator at Saturday’s demonstration in Kabul remarked, crying in anger.
I am Jessica Gonzalez and i have over 16 years experience in the financial services industry giving me a vast understanding of how news affects the financial markets. She is an active day trader spending the majority of my time analyzing earnings reports and watching commodities and derivatives. I have a Masters Degree in Economics from Westminster University with previous roles counting Investment Banking.
