UN envoy calls for pressure on Taliban over women university ban

Gordon Brown urges extra leaders in Islamic international locations to denounce a transfer barring Afghan ladies from larger training.

The United Nations’ particular envoy for world training has known as on Islamic international locations to sentence a transfer by the Taliban banning feminine college students from universities, the most recent in a collection of restrictions imposed on ladies in Afghanistan.

“This is among the saddest days for many who are involved with ladies and women’ rights,” Gordon Brown stated concerning the determination this week by the Taliban-led Ministry of Larger Training.

In an interview with Al Jazeera broadcast on Friday, Brown stated the Afghan economic system can be harmed in the long term if ladies should not allowed to coach as medical doctors, lecturers, researchers, scientists and for different professions.

Within the brief run, the choice could lead on ladies who’ve gotten used to being “impartial thinkers” would both attempt to depart the nation or submit to those guidelines, he stated.

Brown, who beforehand served as UK prime minister, famous that whereas the West had restricted leverage over the Taliban-led authorities following twenty years of battle, Islamic international locations might play a significant position in swaying Taliban insurance policies in direction of larger inclusivity.

“The best way we are able to take care of that is for all our leaders in Muslim international locations to protest and to say Islam doesn’t require this,” he stated.

In an editorial printed within the British newspaper The Guardian, Brown famous that each nation within the Muslim world besides Taliban-run Afghanistan is publicly dedicated to the UN sustainable growth aim that each little one be ensured entry to “inclusive and equitable high quality training” by 2030.

Various Muslim international locations have already condemned the nationwide ban.

Qatar’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs stated in an announcement on Tuesday that the actions would have a considerable impact on Afghanistan’s economic system, progress and human rights. Doha known as on the interim authorities of Afghanistan to revisit its determination and apply Islamic rules on ladies’s rights.

Turkish Overseas Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu stated on Thursday that the ban was “neither Islamic nor humane”. Talking at a joint information convention together with his Yemeni counterpart, Cavusoglu urged the Taliban to reverse the choice.

“What hurt is there in ladies’s training? What hurt does it do to Afghanistan?” Cavusoglu stated. “Is there an Islamic clarification? Quite the opposite, our faith, Islam, will not be towards training. Quite the opposite, it encourages training and science.”

The Saudi Ministry of Overseas Affairs expressed “astonishment and remorse” at Afghan ladies being denied a college training. In an announcement late on Wednesday, the ministry stated the choice was “astonishing in all Islamic international locations”.

Since returning to energy after US troops withdrew in 2021, the Taliban has backtracked on its promise to ensure the rights of women to be educated and different freedoms.

In March, it banned women from secondary training, later extending the restrictions to major training and eventually to larger training.

The group argues its guidelines are in line with its interpretation of Islam.

Feminine Afghan college students protested towards the ban on Friday in Kabul as Taliban personnel prevented their entry to lecture rooms.

The protests had been rapidly shut down by safety officers.