Kabul: Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, Taliban’s deputy foreign minister, has been ‘forced to flee Afghanistan’ after he expressed support for reversing the ban on girls’ education in the country, The Guardian reported.
During a graduation ceremony in Khost province last month, the minister spoke out against the government’s ban on girls attending secondary schools and higher education. “There is no excuse for this – not now and not in the future,” The Guardian quoted Stanikzai as saying. “We are being unjust to 20 million people,” he added.
“During the time of the prophet Muhammad, the doors of knowledge were open for both men and women,” he said. “There were such remarkable women that if I were to elaborate on their contributions, it would take a considerable amount of time.”
After his speech, the Taliban’s supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada reportedly ordered the minister’s arrest and imposed a travel ban. This led Stanikzai to flee Afghanistan for the United Arab Emirates, reported The Guardian.
While talking to local media Stanikzai confirmed that he had traveled to Dubai, he said it was purely for health reasons. The rights of women and girls to education, work, travel, and public appearances have been significantly restricted since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Taliban suspend women's radio stationTaliban authorities in Afghanistan conducted a raid on the well-known women’s radio station, Radio Begum, this week. The broadcaster reported that two employees were arrested during the operation, prompting calls for their immediate release. The Taliban’s Ministry of Information stated that the station was suspended due to “multiple violations.” This marks the latest move in the government’s tightening control over local media outlets in the country. During the raid, Taliban officials searched the office, seizing computers, hard drives, and phones. Two male employees, who reportedly held no senior management positions, were detained. The station broadcasts educational shows, book readings, and call-in counseling programs specifically designed for women. |
