Following widespread international and domestic calls to reopen girls’ schools above sixth grade, now some local Parwan officials asked for the reopening of girls’ schools across the country at a gathering held to support education in the province’s Salang district.
According to the President of the Appellate Court of Parwan, education is required for both men and women under Islamic law, and both the government and society needs educated women.
“Our society needs educated girls, without education a government cannot progress,” said Mohammad Qasim Mohammadi, head of the Appeals Court of Parwan.
The organizers of the gathering asked the Islamic Emirate to reopen girls’ school over sixth grade as soon as possible.
“Girls were coming to school with Islamic hijab, and their teachers were also female. Girls’ schools should be opened, so that our children do not wait more than this,” said Abdul Alim Haidari, a tribal elder.
“We, the people of Salang, ask the Islamic Emirate to reopen girls’ schools above sixth grade, so they can continue their education in a peaceful and Islamic situation,” said Abdul Matin Salangi, a member of the book collection committee.
Meanwhile, a group of young people from the Salang district started a campaign to collect books for the province’s education department and donated almost 2,500 books to the department.
“It is a big achievement to the people of Salang district, may God give them more success in this way, so that they can buy books for schools, and it is useful for students,” said Mohammad Hassan Haqqani, director of Parwan’s education department.
11 months have passed since the closure of girls’ schools over the sixth grade, and it is still unknown when these schools will reopen.
Meanwhile, following international calls for the reopening of girls’ schools above the sixth grade, some Islamic clerics and tribal elders gathered in Gardez, the center of Paktia province, and asked the Islamic Emirate to reopen girls’ schools.
According to the clerics, girls the same as boys have the right to education.
“This is the demand of all the people of Afghanistan, education is necessary for women and men and everyone should cooperate in this regard. If it is possible, please reopen girls’ schools as soon as possible,” said Haji Musa, Islamic Cleric.
“In the Loya Jirga we were assured that the issue of education, which all Muslims are concerned about, (would be addressed),” said Mawlawi Bakhtullah, an Islamic cleric.
Meanwhile, participants urged the international community to interact with Afghanistan and release Afghan’s foreign assets.
“They should recognize the Islamic Emirate, which has the support of most of the people of the country,” said Masoom Sadat, a tribal elder.
“Based on international law, they are not allowed to give Afghanistan’s money to the victims of 9/11. I asked them to release the assets of Afghanistan,” said Mohammad Sharif, a tribal elder.
Although the Islamic Emirate has previously said that it has formed a committee to reopen girls’ schools, it is still unclear when girls’ schools above the sixth grade will open.
