Taliban Official Calls for Reopening of Girls' High Schools, Denounces Closure as 'Injustice'
Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai’s comments mark one of the strongest criticisms of the Taliban’s educational restrictions, amid growing international pressure.
KABUL, Afghanistan — A high-ranking Taliban official, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, has called for the reopening of schools for girls, condemning the ongoing closure of high schools as an “injustice.” This marks one of the most significant public criticisms of the Taliban’s policy on female education, which has contributed to the regime’s growing international isolation.
Stanekzai, the Taliban’s acting deputy foreign minister, made the remarks during a speech over the weekend. He argued that denying girls an education contradicts the principles of Islamic Sharia law. Referring to the Taliban’s leadership, he said, “We request the leaders of the Islamic Emirate to open the doors of education.”
He also drew comparisons to the time of the Prophet Muhammad, noting, “In the time of the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), the doors of knowledge were open to both men and women.”
Stanekzai emphasized the gravity of the situation, adding, “Today, out of a population of 40 million, we are committing injustice against 20 million people,” referring to Afghanistan’s female population.
His comments represent one of the strongest public rebukes of the Taliban’s policy, which has drawn criticism from both within Afghanistan and the international community. Sources close to the Taliban have previously indicated that the decision to keep girls’ high schools closed was largely influenced by the supreme leader, Haibatullah Akhundzada, despite internal opposition within the group.
The Taliban leadership maintains that they respect women's rights within the framework of their interpretation of Islamic law and Afghan culture. However, in a stark reversal of previous promises, the Taliban reneged on their 2022 commitment to reopen high schools for girls. Since then, they have stated that they are working on a plan to reopen these schools but have not provided any clear timeline. The Taliban also closed universities to female students at the end of 2022.
These policies have been widely condemned, both by Islamic scholars and the international community. Many countries, including Western diplomats, have stated that any possibility of formal recognition for the Taliban is contingent on their changing stance toward women's rights and education.
A spokesperson for the Taliban in Kandahar, the spiritual hub of the group, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Stanekzai’s remarks.