Islamic scholars at an Ulema gathering in Kabul on Thursday called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for girls in grades 7-12.
According to the clerics, there is no sharia justification for banning girls from education and girls can go to school while respecting the Islamic Hijab.
“If the female schools teach lessons with observation of Hijab, Islamic Sharia, and in a certain time shift, Inshallah, it will not be in contrast with Islamic regulation and the Quran,” said Sheik Mohammad Anwar Ibrahimi.
“The prophet Mohammad (PBUH) allocated Wednesday for women’s education based on women’s demands,” Sheikh Mawlawi Abdul Mateen said.
Previously, the Islamic Emirate told female students over grade six to remain home until the next decision is announced.
The Islamic scholars at the Kabul gathering called education an Islamic and human right of every Muslim and said there is no obstacle against women’s education in Islam. The participants in a resolution urged the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada, to allow girls above grade six to attend their schools.
“When women’s education is under the Islamic structure, with Islamic Hijab and the males and females are not mixed—if such an environment is ensured by an Islamic government, then no one is forbidden,” said Sheikh Mawlawi Fazal Rahman. “So, in our beloved country, if your supreme leader is considering such a condition, it will be better to allow the education of girls.”
The closing of grades 7-12 for girls has faced strong reactions on a national and international level.
The head of the Tabasum Charity Foundation said that over the past year, it has provided free educational opportunities for male and female students who cannot afford to go to school.
“95% of the students are orphans, homeless and members of poor families who cannot afford to go to school or to get their own educational materials,” said Abdullah Hemmati, head of the Tabasum Charity Foundation.
Meanwhile, the students ask the Islamic Emirate to allow female students over the sixth grade to go to school.
“I want to continue my studies, but I do not know whether the Taliban will let us or not. We ask the Islamic Emirate to open schools as soon as possible,” said Maryam, a student.
“I would like to become a doctor in the future to treat my own people or patients,” said Nazanin, a student.
“I could not afford the fees in other schools and I want to study here and become an engineer in the future,” said Amir Hussein, a student.
The head of Tabassum School said that in addition to educating students based on the country’s curriculum, the foundation also teaches students in educational classes such as mathematics, English and computers.
“The (national) curriculum is taught here. In addition to those subjects, we also teach mathematics, English or computer subjects along with other subjects,” said Mohammad Taher Haidari, headmaster of Tabassum School.—Tolonews
