Afghanistan’s new Taliban rulers say they hope to open all Afghan girls’ schools across the country by late March. A spokesman talked to The Associated Press on Saturday. Thereby, providing the first timeline for meeting a crucial international demand.
By late March, it is hoped that girls’ schools across Afghanistan will reopen. As a result, for the first time since the group retook control in mid-August, a timeframe for the restart of high schools for girls has been provided. In most of Afghanistan, Afghan girls have not been allowed to return to school past the seventh grade.
The international community is reluctant to openly recognize a Taliban-run government. Thus, fearing that they may impose the same severe measures as they did during their last 20-year rule. Women were barred from education, work, and public life during the period.
Zabihullah Mujahid is the Taliban’s deputy minister of culture and information. He claimed their education departments are aiming to open classes for all girls and women in the Afghan new year. It begins on March 21. Afghanistan follows the Islamic solar Hijri Shamsi calendar, as does neighbor Iran.
“We are not against education”: Taliban
In the interview, Mujahid stated that education for girls and women is a “question of capacity.”
In schools, girls and boys must be entirely separated, he said. Also, adding that the largest challenge so far has been finding or establishing enough rooms, or hostels, where girls may reside while attending classes. Separate classrooms for boys and girls aren’t adequate in densely populated locations, he says; separate school structures are required.
The Taliban has not officially prohibited Afghan girls from attending school. But its fighters have closed girls’ secondary schools and stopped women from attending public colleges in several parts of the nation.
“We are not against education,” Mujahid said. He was speaking at a Kabul office building that once housed the Afghan attorney general’s offices. It has now been adopted by the Taliban as their culture and communication ministry.
“In many provinces, the higher classes (girls’ school) are open. But in some places where it is closed, the reasons are economic crisis and the framework, which we need to work on in areas that are overcrowded. And for that we need to establish the new procedure,” he said.
Afghan girls do not have permission to go back into classes in state-run schools after grade 7
The Taliban’s orders have been inconsistent so far, shifting from province to province. In ten of the country’s 34 provinces, Afghan girls do not have permission to go back into classes in state-run schools after grade 7. Private institutions and high schools in Kabul, the capital, have continued to operate normally. The majority are small, and classrooms have a division.
“We are trying to solve these problems by the coming year,” so that schools and universities can open, Mujahid said.
High school student Anzorat, who gave only her first name, expressed doubt.
“I don’t think they will reopen girls’ school because they have said so many things but haven’t followed up. If they really open the schools again it would be the best for girls,” she said.
“From the Taliban’s perspective education for girls is a crime, if it wasn’t like this they wouldn’t have banned them from schools,” the 19-year-old told Al Jazeera.
Humanitarian catastrophe
Even as it scrambles to deliver billions of dollars to avert a humanitarian catastrophe that the UN head said might jeopardize millions of lives this week. The international community has been dubious of Taliban announcements, saying it will judge them by their actions.
In the severely cold Afghan winters, most families rely on firewood and coal for heat. It is due to breakdowns in services and only sporadic electricity. Some 3 million Afghans live as refugees within their own country. They have abandoned their homes due to conflict, drought, poverty, or the Taliban’s threat.
The UN announced a $5 billion plea for Afghanistan earlier this month. Hence, making it the single largest request for a single country.
The 2001 US-led war toppled the Taliban rule. Since that, Washington has spent $145 billion on rehabilitation and development projects in Afghanistan. Even before the Taliban retook control of the country, the poverty rate was 54%. A Gallup poll in 2018 indicated unparalleled levels of misery among Afghans.
Mujahid appealed for economic cooperation, trade, and “stronger diplomatic relations”. So far, neither Afghanistan’s neighbors nor the United Nations appear ready to grant legal recognition. It would help open up the Afghan economy. However, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for greater economic development. Saying it’s critical to rapidly inject liquidity into the Afghan economy “and avoid a meltdown that would lead to poverty, hunger and destitution for millions.”
The international community has urged for a more representative administration. It should include women, ethnic and religious minorities, and minorities of all kinds. All members of the new Taliban Cabinet are men and the majority are Taliban members. Mujahid said there are some holdovers from the previous, US-backed administration; such as the deputy finance minister and officials in the economics ministry.
Taliban didn’t indicate whether or when women would get permission to work in government departments again
Mujahid further stated that 80% of the civil servants who returned to work were previously working in the previous administration. He noted that women work in the health and education sectors. Also, in customs and passport control at Kabul International Airport. Mujahid didn’t indicate whether or when women would get permission to work in government departments again.
He also informed the Associated Press that the Taliban will collect customs at border crossings with Iran, Pakistan, and Central Asian states to the north. It will provide the majority of the new government’s money. Then, he claimed that the Taliban had brought in more revenue in their first four months in power. It is more than the previous administration had in almost a year. But he did not provide data.
Also, he urged Afghans who had fled to return to their country. Since the takeover, there are reports of opponents arrested, journalists beaten, human rights activists threatened, and women’s protests disrupted by heavily armed Taliban fighters firing into the air.
Mujahid admitted to Taliban members tormenting Afghan people, including humiliating young men and forcing them to shave their hair.
“Such crimes happen, but it is not the policy of our government,” he said. Adding that they arrested those responsible.
“This is our message. We have no dispute with anyone and we don’t want anyone to remain in opposition or away from their country.”