Afghanistan’s Taliban officials have broken their promise on reopening schools for girls above the sixth grade.
QUICK FACTS:
- Since the Taliban overtook Afghanistan in August 2021, girls have been banned from attending school above the sixth grade, the Associated Press reported.
- Taliban officials promised to reopen the schools, but Wednesday unexpectedly decided against doing so, opting to appease their base instead.
- The decision, AP reports, is expected to disrupt the group’s efforts in seeking international recognition from potential donors.
U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE ON THE TALIBAN’S BROKEN PROMISE:
“It’s a betrayal of public commitments to the Afghan people and the international community.”
BACKGROUND:
- Thomas West, U.S. Special Representative, tweeted his “shock and disappointment” in the Taliban’s decision.
- “For the sake of the country’s future and its relations with the international community, I would urge the Taliban to live up to their commitments to their people,” West said.
- Since the Taliban came to power last summer, there have been reports of differences in the leadership higher up, with clashing opinions in the treatment of women and girls in the country.
- While universities opened earlier in the year and women have returned to work in some sectors, most provinces have closed educational institutions for girls across the country.
