Stanikzai - who serves as the political deputy at the Foreign Ministry - called the restrictions unjustifiable during a speech at a religious school ceremony in southeastern Khost province on Saturday
“There is no reason to deny education to women and girls,” Stanikzai said. “This is not in Islamic law but a reflection of personal choices or nature. We are committing an injustice against 20 million people out of a population of 40 million, depriving them of their rights.”
The Taliban’s policy, which bars females from attending school beyond the sixth grade, has faced widespread condemnation. Reports from September 2023 also suggest that authorities have ceased medical training and courses for women, exacerbating the crisis in a country where female medical professionals are crucial to women’s healthcare.
