Mahatma Gandhi famously said, “The measure of a civilization is how it treats its weakest members.” Gandhi emphasized the importance of women’s status as a reflection of a nation’s progress. He believed that the true test of a country’s greatness was how it treats its women, highlighting that the dignity and rights afforded to women are indicative of the nation’s overall humanity and ethical standards.
Afghanistan stands as a stark symbol of the brutal repression of women’s rights, and is the only country in the world where girls are systematically denied access to secondary education.
This grim reality has unfolded since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. Girls have been banned from attending school beyond grade six. This devastating policy has stripped nearly 1.4 million young Afghan girls of their right to education, leaving 75 percent of the nation’s girls without schooling. This is not merely a policy; it is a deliberate attempt to suppress half of the population, condemning the nation to a bleak future.
A Regime of Repression
Under the Taliban’s draconian rule, Afghanistan has transformed into a society where women and girls are excluded from virtually all aspects of public life. Public spaces such as parks, gyms, and other communal areas remain off-limits to women. The suffocating restrictions have driven some women to such despair that they have tragically taken their own lives.
“In my village, several girls beyond sixth grade are eager to attend school every day, but they have no option. They are severely depressed, as are their parents. Parents want their daughters to go to school, but the Taliban doesn’t permit it,” a female teacher in Afghanistan* told The Diplomat.
During visits to various parts of Afghanistan, The Diplomat found girls as young as five in niqabs navigating a society where the Taliban’s presence is pervasive and their influence oppressive. The fear and repression are palpable, as even the smallest girls are forced to cover up and remain hidden from the public eye. The atmosphere of fear and repression is omnipresent in Afghanistan today, raising the troubling question of why such young children are subjected to measures that strip away their innocence and visibility.
Why impose this burden on them? Why sexualize children, treating them as if they are in need of such extreme concealment?
“There are more restrictions on women and girls now than before. We can’t go out on our own and have to cover up completely when outside. Even young girls must cover. Afghanistan is no longer a country for women and girls. We are desperate. Please help us find a way out,” another female Afghan teacher said.
Power in Afghanistan rests solely with the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, whose strict stance on women’s rights ensures that the country’s future remains bleak. Although some Taliban officials express a desire to allow girls back into schools, the decision ultimately lies with the leadership.
When asked about the status of girls’ education, government officials, including Minister of Education Habibullah Agha, have passed the responsibility to higher authorities, claiming that it is beyond their remit.
One senior official said that the Taliban wanted to see schools built by the international community – for boys. When asked why not for girls, he responded angrily, “I don’t know, I can’t answer this question. You should ask the international community. This doesn’t come under my radar.”
“The supreme leader will make the decision,” he added. “Also, you should know that the international community cannot intervene in our internal matters. We don’t need their money if they are going to push like this. We are happy to live in mud houses like we did before. We have shed blood for 20 years, and we can do it again. We will do jihad again. Don’t push us! We don’t need you or the international community!”
The Collapse of Education and the Rise of Child Marriages
Before the Taliban’s resurgence, Afghanistan’s education system was fragile yet developing. Between 2001 and 2018, the country experienced a dramatic transformation, with a tenfold increase in enrollment across all educational levels. Girls’ participation in primary education surged from almost zero in 2001 to 2.5 million in 2018, and by August 2021, girls made up 40 percent of primary school students. Women’s presence in higher education also expanded significantly, with female students increasing from 5,000 in 2001 to over 100,000 in 2021.
This progress, however, was undone just a few months into the Taliban’s takeover. The quality of education is dubious now and the environment is stifling. This regressive move has had far-reaching consequences: a surge in child marriages, the growing idolization of the Taliban among young boys who now follow them closely in groups playing and laughing with them, even to mosques, and a marked rise in depression among women and girls.
The Taliban’s presence is pervasive, with their influence felt in every corner of every district, province, and across the country, creating an atmosphere of constant surveillance and control. The repression extends to cultural aspects as well; listening to music, for example, is strictly forbidden, though some people still risk doing it in secret. My driver, for example, would hastily hide his tapes whenever we approached a Taliban checkpoint, which occurred every 10 minutes.
Despite the grim reality facing Afghanistan, there are international organizations that align with the Taliban’s vision of education, particularly in supporting madrassa-based learning for girls. These institutions primarily provide religious education, focusing on Islamic studies, and fail to offer a well-rounded curriculum that includes critical subjects like English, mathematics, and science. This narrow educational approach significantly restricts the opportunities available to girls, effectively depriving them of the skills and knowledge necessary to pursue diverse careers and fully realize their potential.
The impact of this limited education is profound. Without access to comprehensive learning, girls are denied the chance to develop into professionals who can contribute to the economy and participate meaningfully in society.
During my visits, I met young girls who, despite the barriers, still dreamed of becoming doctors, teachers, and engineers. This potential is being tragically squandered by an educational system that confines them to a narrow, restrictive path. These girls are eager to contribute to their communities and to their country, but the lack of a comprehensive education pushes these dreams increasingly out of reach.
In addition to restricting girls’ education, the Taliban has imposed salary cuts for female teachers, exacerbating the economic hardships that many families face. The economic strain, coupled with strict societal controls, has led to a 25 percent increase in child marriages since the Taliban’s takeover, according to U.N. Women. The dire economic situation is further compounded by reduced foreign aid, with a 2023 United Nations Development Programme study predicting that extreme poverty will persist for decades unless the restrictions on women are lifted.
“Some girls are being married off even before the 6th grade because parents see no point in continuing their education. My own relative married off their 11-year-old daughter to a 37-year-old man just to receive the bride price,” a school representative in an Afghan village told The Diplomat.
A Taliban representative who oversaw every community-level meeting in the village commented that “some girls mature quickly, so it’s okay to stop them from attending school and to marry them off at the age of 12 or 13. This is in our Sharia Law and we can’t go against Islam.”
The Global Repercussions
The Taliban’s draconian policies have not only strained Afghanistan’s relationship with the international community but have also choked the flow of vital aid to the country. Donors are increasingly reluctant to provide assistance to a nation where women are banned from education and most work, yet two-thirds of Afghanistan’s population – approximately 28.3 million people – are in urgent need of emergency assistance. Since the fall of the Republic, nearly 10 million more Afghans have been pushed into this category, with the ban on women working being a significant contributing factor.
Donors, once committed to enhancing educational opportunities for all children, are now hesitant to support a system that only benefits one segment of society. They believe that education should be inclusive, recognizing that educating girls alongside boys is essential for creating a more equitable and prosperous society. However, this shift in donor priorities has sparked concern among parents, who fear that the withdrawal of support could negatively impact boys’ education as well. They worry that without external aid, the already fragile educational infrastructure could deteriorate further, potentially leaving an entire generation without proper education. They are concerned that the lack of educational institutional can lead to a broader educational crisis, where both boys and girls are deprived of the knowledge and skills needed to secure their future and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s development.
This is a deeply perplexing situation, with no clear solutions in sight. The uncertainty and complexity have left everyone at a loss, unsure of the next steps. Meanwhile, the world watches, aware of the gravity of the situation but seemingly paralyzed by the enormity of the challenge. The stakes are high, and the path forward remains uncertain, leaving the future of an entire generation hanging in the balance.
Civil Society’s Struggle and Resistance
Despite the oppressive environment, Afghan civil society has not remained silent. In response to the dire educational situation, many Afghans have turned to alternative methods of learning.
Online education, private tutoring, and homeschooling have become lifelines for those determined to defy the Taliban’s oppressive laws. Despite the risks, many women and girls continue to pursue education in secret, demonstrating their resilience and determination to reclaim their rights.
However, these efforts represent a minority of the population. The majority of Afghan women and girls remain without access to these alternative opportunities, leaving them unable to benefit from the educational resources that are so crucial for their development and future prospects.
The contrast between those who manage to pursue education in secret and those who are denied any form of learning shows the profound disparity and the urgent need for broader support and solutions.
A Call to Action
The exclusion of Afghan women and civil society from the recent Doha talks between global envoys and Taliban representatives highlights the ongoing struggle for Afghan women’s rights. Organizations like the Malala Fund and its partners have been vocal in condemning the Taliban’s policies and advocating for the inclusion of Afghan women in any future discussions.
Afghanistan’s future hangs in the balance. Without the education and participation of half its population, the nation risks sinking further into poverty and isolation. The international community must continue to pressure the Taliban to reverse these regressive policies and ensure that Afghan women and girls are not forgotten in the pursuit of peace and stability. The world must not stand idly by as a nation’s future is systematically dismantled.
*Names and locations have been withheld to ensure the safety of those brave enough to speak to a journalist about the reality of life inside Afghanistan.