UN Rights Expert Condemns Taliban’s Education Ban as ‘Crushing Extremism,’ Warns of Afghan Collapse

NEW YORK (dawatmedia24)– The United Nations’ top human rights expert for Afghanistan has issued a stark warning, stating that the Taliban’s systematic eradication of women’s education is not merely a policy but an act of “crushing extremism” that threatens to annihilate the country’s future stability, development, and potential.

In a forceful address on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Friday, Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, detailed how the ban is part of a broader campaign of oppression that is pushing the nation toward irreversible decline.

“By denying girls and women access to education beyond the primary level, the de facto authorities are not just violating fundamental human rights; they are engaging in a form of intellectual extremism that risks destroying the very fabric of Afghan society,” Bennett stated. “This policy deprives a generation of opportunity and hope, creating a vacuum that is being filled by a narrow and rigid religious indoctrination at the expense of a formal, well-rounded curriculum.”

Beyond the Classroom: A Systematic Campaign of Erasure

Bennett’s condemnation extends beyond the well-publicized closures of secondary schools and universities. He highlighted the Taliban’s broader assault on women’s participation in public life, which includes barring them from most employment, including working for NGOs, and severely restricting their freedom of movement.

This multi-pronged approach, he argued, is designed to erase women from public view and cement a system of gender apartheid. “The education ban cannot be viewed in isolation,” Bennett emphasized. “It is the cornerstone of a policy aimed at making women invisible, dependent, and devoid of the tools to contribute to their society. The international community must see this for what it is: a deliberate strategy of suppression.”

The Critical Role of Evidence and Afghan Voices

A key part of Bennett’s message was a call to action for the international community to strengthen its response. He stressed that credible, on-the-ground reporting from within Afghanistan remains the most powerful weapon against the Taliban’s narrative.

“Without well-documented evidence, the daily suffering and resilience of Afghan women and girls risk being forgotten or overshadowed by other global crises,” Bennett warned. “We must continue to support mechanisms that record these violations, as they are essential for shaping an informed global debate and driving meaningful, targeted action.”

Furthermore, he urged the creation of more platforms for Afghans themselves to speak, particularly Islamic scholars and religious experts who can challenge the Taliban’s interpretation of Islam. “It is vital to amplify Afghan voices, both male and female, who can provide counter-narratives from within an Islamic framework. This is not a clash between the West and Afghanistan; it is a struggle for the soul of Afghanistan itself,” he said.

A Regime of Fear and International Scrutiny

The UN envoy also pointed to the Taliban’s intensifying crackdown on dissent, noting the systematic suppression of civil society, intimidation of journalists, and reprisals against critics. “Despite these attempts to silence all opposition, the Taliban’s actions remain under intense international scrutiny,” Bennett asserted. “The regime’s desire for international legitimacy is fundamentally incompatible with its brutal treatment of its own people.”

A Grim Future and a Call to Action

Bennett’s warning arrives as human rights organizations and several UN member states are increasing pressure on the world body to adopt stronger measures against the Taliban. These include more targeted sanctions and conditioning any form of engagement or recognition on the immediate and unconditional reversal of the bans on education and work.

For Afghanistan, the Special Rapporteur’s analysis paints a grim long-term prognosis. The country faces a future of profound instability, economic collapse, and near-total international isolation. The loss of an entire generation of educated women—who would have been doctors, engineers, teachers, and leaders—threatens to cripple Afghanistan for decades to come, creating a crisis from which it may never fully recover. Bennett’s message serves as a sobering reminder that the fight for the right to education in Afghanistan is a fight for the nation’s very survival.

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