Taliban minister flees Afghanistan after criticising ban on girls' education

The Guardian reveals in its recent article that a senior Taliban official who publicly opposed the regime’s ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan has reportedly been forced to flee the country. 

A senior Taliban official, Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, who recently expressed support for reversing the ban on girls' education in Afghanistan, appears to have fled the country following government backlash.

During a graduation ceremony in Khost province, close to the Afghan-Pakistani border, on January 20, Stanikzai, the Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, openly criticized the ban on girls attending secondary schools and higher education. He called the policy unjust, stating, “There is no excuse for this – not now and not in the future. We are being unjust to 20 million people.”

Stanikzai also referenced the historical inclusivity of education, saying, “During the time of the prophet Muhammad, the doors of knowledge were open for both men and women,” and praised the contributions of women throughout history, adding, “There were such remarkable women that if I were to elaborate on their contributions, it would take a considerable amount of time.”

Following these remarks, reports emerged that the Taliban’s supreme leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, ordered Stanikzai’s arrest and issued a travel ban against him. This move is believed to have led to Stanikzai’s departure from Afghanistan to the United Arab Emirates.

While Stanikzai confirmed to local media that he had left for Dubai, he claimed it was for health reasons. The Taliban were contacted for comment but did not respond.

Since the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the rights of women and girls have been severely restricted, with their access to education, work, and public life being significantly curtailed.

The international community has increasingly criticized the Taliban’s treatment of women and girls. Last month, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Akhundzada and Afghanistan’s chief justice, citing their persecution of women and girls as a crime against humanity.

By Naila Huseynova