Taliban minister defends closing universities to women as global backlash grows

2022-12-23

Afghanistan's Taliban-run administration said on Thursday it had closed universities to women partly due to female students not adhering to its interpretation of the Islamic dress code, in a decision that was condemned globally.

Female university students were turned away from campuses on Wednesday and the higher education ministry said their access would be suspended "until further notice". The move prompted strong condemnation from foreign governments and criticism from some Afghans, sparking protests in Afghan cities.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the Taliban were trying to sentence Afghanistan's women "to a dark future without opportunity" by barring them from attending universities.

Acting higher Education Minister Nida Mohammad Nadim, in his first comments on the matter, told Afghan state broadcaster RTA that several issues had prompted the decision, including female students not wearing appropriate Islamic attire and interaction between students of different genders taking place.

source:https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/dozens-protest-afghan-capital-after-taliban-close-universities-women-2022-12-22/