Taliban Deputy FM Calls for Reopening Girls' High Schools

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai, the Taliban's acting deputy foreign minister, urged the Taliban leadership to reopen schools for Afghan girls, marking a significant public challenge to the regime's restrictive education policies. His remarks, made during a recent speech, highlighted that current restrictions contradict Islamic Sharia law and represent an injustice against the female population of Afghanistan. Stanekzai emphasized the historical precedent for women's education in Islam, stating that the doors of knowledge were open to all during the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The Taliban had previously promised to reopen girls' high schools in 2022 but reversed this decision, leaving many educational institutions closed to female students. International criticism of the Taliban's policies continues to grow, with many arguing that formal recognition of the regime is contingent on improving women's rights. The internal conflict regarding these policies suggests possible divisions within the Taliban leadership itself.