Malala condemns the Taliban’s decision to close women’s universities

‘The Taliban cannot prevent women from learning by closing universities,’ says Malala.

Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai says the Taliban cannot stop girls from studying and learning. In response to the Taliban's ban on women's higher education in Afghanistan, Malala asserted that the Taliban could never prevent girls from learning.

Despite the Taliban closing all schools, classrooms and universities in Afghanistan, women's minds can never be closed, according to Malala.

She condemned the Taliban's ban on women's higher education in a tweet.

The Taliban may lock all the classrooms and university gates in the country — but they can never lock up women's minds. They cannot stop girls from seeking knowledge. They cannot kill the quest to learn. https://t.co/N6qR0yzMgO
— Malala (@Malala) December 21, 2022

In a letter issued yesterday by the Afghan Ministry of Higher Education, all private and public universities were ordered to suspend women's education until the second year. In Afghanistan, protests are also being held against the Taliban's ban on women's higher education.

In protest, medical students at Nangarhar University refused to take the exams. Until the universities are reopened for women, they said, they will not give any exams. In addition to men, women also took part in the protest outside the university.

Ghazni province's university was the site of a protest by female students. A group of Afghan female students said the decision to close girls' universities goes against Islamic principles.

The hashtag 'Let Her Learn' also became a top trend on Twitter as people expressed their solidarity with Afghan female students.

Rashid Khan, the world-class spinner for the Afghan cricket team, also came forward in support of women's education.

#LetAfghanGirlsLearn 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/KdEK4MXACF
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) December 21, 2022

On social media, Rashid Khan shared the hadith of the Holy Prophet ﷺ, which translates as 'acquiring knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman'.

Moreover, both the United States and the United Kingdom have condemned the ban on women's higher education in Afghanistan.

The United States has stated that the Taliban should not expect to be part of the international community until they respect women's rights. The international community has already expressed serious concern about the Taliban government's actions in regards to women's education.