Women on Thursday gathered outside Kabul University to stage the first major public demonstration in the capital since the Taliban’s decision to close universities to female students.
It was reported that female university students were turned away on Wednesday from campuses after the Taliban-run administration said on Tuesday that women would be suspended from tertiary education.
According to witnesses, about 50 mainly female protestors assembled while holding banners and chanted: “Education is our right, universities should be opened.”
sources said the Taliban detained five female protesters and three journalists on Thursday in Kabul and transferred them to an unknown location.
According to Taliban sources, the group disrupted the women’s demonstrations and beat up the protesters in the capital city too.
Since taking control of power in Afghanistan in August 2021, the Taliban have issued 16 decrees to restrict women’s social participation in Afghanistan.
The recent decree of the Taliban leader has been met with global outcry and widespread domestic criticism.
Diplomats however said the backlash towards restrictions on female education is complicating the Taliban-led administration’s efforts to gain formal recognition and the lifting of sanctions that are hampering the economy.
There has been a heavy security presence in the Afghan capital, including at gatherings at universities, in recent days.
A spokesperson for Afghanistan’s higher education ministry said its minister would hold a press conference on Thursday or Friday to “elaborate more on the closure of universities for women.”
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