Divisions exist within Taliban leadership on Afghan women's education. Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai announced publicly that there was no basis for excluding education for women and girls, praising their right to learn. Taliban officials in certain areas have even provided medical courses for female students. Nonetheless, despite these opinions, the Taliban's highest [...]
Under the Taliban, Afghan women are banned from studying at universities and working in most jobs. Despite these restrictions, 22-year-old Zahra Ali has started a small business producing rechargeable battery packs to address the country’s power shortages. Working from her home workshop, she builds battery packs that help her neighbors cope with unreliable electricity. Though [...]
Over 80 Afghan women, who fled the Taliban to pursue higher education in Oman, now face imminent return to Afghanistan after their scholarships were abruptly terminated. These women were pursuing graduate and post-graduate courses under the Women's Scholarship Endowment (WSE), a USAID program that started in 2018. It provided scholarships for Afghan women to study [...]
The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court wants arrest orders for Afghan Taliban leaders, such as the top leader and chief judge, because of their role in targeting women and girls in the country. The inquiry uses evidence from August 2021. It shows crimes against humanity that include killing, detention, torture, sexual abuse, as well [...]
