The Taliban government has introduced a new ban on university teaching in Afghanistan, targeting books authored by women and several key subjects. The decree, which is the latest in a series of restrictions on education and women’s rights, has raised concerns about the future of higher education in the country.
The ban affects an estimated 140 books written by women, including titles like Safety in the Chemical Laboratory. These books were among a list of 680 titles deemed to be of “concern” due to “anti-Sharia and Taliban policies.” Additionally, 18 subjects were outlawed, with a Taliban official stating they are “in conflict with the principles of Sharia and the system’s policy.”
Broader Impact on Education and Women
This new directive builds on existing restrictions that have severely limited the lives of women and girls. They are already barred from attending school past the sixth grade. The ban on specific university subjects directly impacts women’s access to knowledge and training, with six of the 18 banned subjects being specifically about women, including Gender and Development and The Role of Women in Communication.
The ban has also targeted books by Iranian authors or publishers, with 310 of the 679 titles on the banned list being from Iran. A member of the book review committee told the BBC that this was done to “prevent the infiltration of Iranian content” into the Afghan curriculum. This decision could further strain the relationship between the neighboring countries, which have clashed over issues such as water rights and the forced return of Afghan refugees.
‘A Void in Education’
Former Afghan Deputy Minister of Justice, Zakia Adeli, whose books are on the banned list, expressed a sense of inevitability about the decision. “Given the Taliban’s misogynistic mindset and policies, it is only natural that when women themselves are not allowed to study, their views, ideas, and writings are also suppressed,” she said.
The move has worried many academics. A professor at a Kabul institution told the BBC that the removal of Iranian-authored books creates a “substantial void in higher education” as they served as a key link to the global academic community. Lecturers are now reportedly forced to create their own teaching materials, raising questions about whether these new curricula can meet international standards.
Source: BBC News
