In a rare public challenge to Taliban leadership, senior official Sher Abbas Stanikzai has called for removing education restrictions on Afghan women and girls, stating the current bans have no religious justification.
Speaking at a religious school ceremony in Khost province, Stanikzai, who serves as political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, emphasized that denying education to females contradicts Islamic law and stems from personal biases rather than religious doctrine.
"We are committing an injustice against 20 million people out of a population of 40 million, depriving them of all their rights," Stanikzai declared in a video shared on his social media account. This marks his first direct appeal to Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada for policy change.
The Taliban administration currently prohibits female education beyond sixth grade. Recent reports suggest authorities have also halted medical training for women, though this has not been officially confirmed. This restriction particularly impacts healthcare delivery, as Afghan women can only receive treatment from female medical professionals.
While Stanikzai has previously advocated for women's education rights, analysts note this latest statement represents a stronger challenge to current policies. The remarks come as the Taliban government faces continued international isolation, with no country formally recognizing their rule.
The United Nations maintains that international recognition remains unlikely while restrictions on women's education, employment, and public movement persist. Despite this, some nations like Russia and India have begun developing diplomatic ties with Afghan authorities.
Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai recently urged Muslim leaders at an Organization of Islamic Cooperation conference to confront the Taliban regarding female education restrictions, highlighting growing international pressure for policy changes.