Taliban Minister Strikes Controversy Over Girls’ Education, Challenges Islamic Scholars

In a fresh wave of controversy surrounding girls’ education in Afghanistan, the Taliban’s acting Minister of Higher Education, Neda Mohammad Nadeem, has ignited fierce debates both within the country and globally.

Speaking at a press briefing on August 25, in Kabul, Nadeem declared that the issue of whether Afghan girls will be permitted to continue their education beyond the sixth grade remains “suspended until further notice,” leaving many to question the future of women’s education under the Taliban regime. Neda stated, “If the research concludes that female education in this manner is permissible, it will be allowed. However if the findings suggest it should remain suspended, the suspension will continue,”.

His comments, which suggest that ongoing research by Islamic scholars will ultimately decide the fate of girls’ education, have been met with a mix of scepticism and outrage from various Afghans. Social media, particularly the platform X (formerly Twitter), has been ablaze with criticism, as Afghan citizens and international observers alike challenge the Taliban’s stance and call for the immediate reopening of girls’ schools.

In one heated space on X (formerly known as Twitter), Abdullah Maikhil, a journalist and host, spent hours discussing the issue. The majority of participants in the space vehemently criticised the Taliban’s stance, challenging the regime to reopen schools for girls beyond the sixth grade. “This is not just a question of education; it’s a question of our national identity and future,” one participant said. “The Taliban are holding our daughters hostage to their own-style interpretation Islam.”

Nadeem’s remarks struck a particularly sensitive nerve when he suggested that those without religious authority should refrain from positioning themselves as scholars on the matter. “We have demonstrated that our decrees are in full accordance with Islam and Sharia law,” Nadeem declared. He emphasised that the Taliban’s policies on women’s education do not conflict with “Islamic laws and Afghan traditions.” But for many, these assurances rang hollow.

Challenges Islamic Scholars

Nadeem also issued a challenge to Islamic scholars, urging them to provide evidence that girls’ education is permissible under Hanafi jurisprudence. “If someone claims that this type of education is allowed in a certain book, there is no need for the media; come to the ministry and share it with us. I believe that this issue will be resolved,” he said.

The statement prompted a flurry of responses on social media. Maulvi Zai ul Rahman Asghar, a pro-Taliban prominent religious scholar, took to X to express his frustration. “The minister has now put the responsibility squarely on our shoulders,” he tweeted, along with a screenshot of a fatwa (Islamic legal ruling) that supports the education of women. “It is time for our scholars to rise to the occasion.”

Since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, the question of girls’ education has remained a deeply contentious issue. Their decision to ban girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade has been condemned by international organisations, human rights groups, and Afghan citizens alike.

While the Taliban have repeatedly stated that they are working within the framework of Islamic law, many Afghans believe that the ban is part of a broader strategy to isolate the country and exert control over its population.

A current affairs analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that the Taliban may be using the issue of girls’ education as a bargaining chip in their quest for international recognition. “The Taliban know that this is a major point of contention with the international community. They will keep this dilemma unresolved until they get what they want,” the analyst said.

A Generation at Risk

The ban on girls’ education has already had a devastating impact on Afghanistan’s younger generation. One X user, who goes by the name Noorzai, shared a poignant post with a photoshopped image of Neda Nadeem and a pile of wood sticks, writing, “A whole generation is growing up without education, and the cost will be paid by Afghans themselves. Those who could afford it have already left Afghanistan for the sake of their daughters’ education.”

Noorzai’s post included a chilling question: “In your opinion if the Taliban were no longer in power and Mullah Nadeem were to walk through the city unarmed, what would the people do to him?” The question, loaded with anger and despair, underscores the deep divisions within Afghan society over the Taliban’s policies.

For many Afghan families, the decision to leave their homeland has been both painful and necessary. “I knew I had to leave Afghanistan. I did not want my daughters, who were both medical students, to be victims of this system any longer,” said a mother who recently relocated to Canada. A top doctor in Afghanistan before her move, she represents countless others who have fled the country in search of a future where their daughters can pursue education without fear.

As the Taliban continues to grapple with international pressure and domestic unrest, the future of girls’ education in Afghanistan remains uncertain. Neda Mohammad Nadeem’s recent remarks have done little to reassure those who fear that the ban on education is here to stay. For now, the question of whether Afghan girls will be allowed to return to school rests in the hands of religious scholars—a prospect that leaves many Afghans feeling hopeless.

Education has become a battleground for competing visions— of the country’s future.

As the sun sets over Kabul, the cries for justice and education grow louder, echoing through the streets and reverberating across the world. The fate of Afghanistan’s daughters remains uncertain, and the world is watching.

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