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Female students in front of the university in Kabul
Photo:
STRINGER / REUTERS
The Islamist Taliban have banned women from university education in Afghanistan.
In a government statement, all private and public universities were instructed to enforce the education ban for women until further notice.
The declaration was signed by the acting minister, Sheikh Neda Mohammed Nadim.
There was no justification.
A ministry spokesman confirmed the ban to the AFP news agency.
Less than three months ago, thousands of girls and women across the country had taken university entrance tests.
Many of them wanted to study teaching or medicine.
After the Taliban took power in August 2021, universities were already forced to introduce new rules.
Entrances and classrooms were separated according to gender.
Women could only be taught by other women or old men.
Secondary schools from the seventh grade upwards have also been closed to girls since the change of government.
In Kabul, women have even been banned from visiting public parks and gyms for several months.
Despite international criticism, the Taliban are sticking to their course.
atb/dpa/AFP