Taliban forbid girls to attend high schools

The definition of education violates the human rights of women and girls. Beyond their equal right to education, it leaves them more exposed to violence, poverty and exploitation”, said Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Surprise announcement came late Tuesday night. Many teachers and students found out only on Wednesday morning, the first day of the school year in Afghanistan, as girls prepared to return to class after a six - month break caused by riots in the country.

Many excited girls were already waiting outside school. They were here a few hours before they started class. They were very happy and excited. Then we were notified of the new command”, said a school teacher in Kabul.

Girls have been banned from schooling beyond high school in most of the country since the Taliban returned to power.

The decision is seen as appropriate for the rural and deeply tribal class, which is reluctant to send their daughters to school.

Waheedullah Hashim, representative of foreign relations and donors with the Taliban-led administration, said urban centres are largely supportive of the education of girls, while said most of rural Afghanistan was against.

In some rural areas, a brother in the village will no longer speak to his brother in town, if he finds out he's letting his girls go to school”, Hashim said.

Afghan television stations broadcast interviews with crying girls after realizing that they would not be allowed to attend the lesson, reports Guardian.

When I arrived, I was very happy, but my teacher was crying and I didn't know why. When she told us the news, everyone started crying”, one student said.

We're people. We have rights. Why are they playing with our future? We just want to continue our studies. Is it a crime to be a girl? Is it a crime we want to study?