Taliban Ban University Education for All Afghan Women

The Taliban, who have ruled Afghanistan for more than a year, have suspended university education for all women in the country. The ban on women studying in public and private universities was announced on Tuesday, effective immediately, several news organizations who confirmed the suspension with the Taliban reported. The announcement comes two weeks after the Taliban allowed girls to take their high school graduation exams, despite not being inside of a classroom since the Islamist fundamental group took over.

The Taliban have been barring women from entering public spaces including parks, gyms, and entertainment venues, requiring them to wear burqas and face coverings and requiring a male escort in public.

The Taliban took over and announced the formation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan at the end of August 2021 when the last US and other foreign troops left the country.

They had assured the international community that they would not curtail the rights of women and girls at the time of the takeover, in an effort to look more moderate and garner worldwide support.