The Taliban government has removed books written by women from the university teaching system in Afghanistan as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.
Some 140 books by women - including titles like Safety in the Chemical Laboratory - were among 680 books found to be of concern due to anti-Sharia and Taliban policies.
The universities were further told they were no longer allowed to teach 18 subjects, with a Taliban official saying they were in conflict with the principles of Sharia and the system's policy.
This decree is part of a series of restrictions introduced by the Taliban since they regained power four years ago. Just recently, Taliban officials also banned fibre-optic internet in at least 10 provinces, citing a need to prevent immorality.
These restrictions have particularly impacted women and girls, who have been barred from education beyond the sixth grade, with many opportunities for further training being cut off. Six of the 18 banned subjects specifically relate to women's studies, including Gender and Development and Women's Sociology.
A committee member reviewing the books confirmed, all books authored by women are not allowed to be taught. Zakia Adeli, an author and former deputy minister of justice, expressed her belief that the Taliban's actions were expected due to their ongoing suppression of women's education and voices.
This ban also extends to books authored by Iranian writers or publishers, ostensibly to prevent foreign influence within the Afghan education system. The removal of these texts creates a significant gap in higher education, making it challenging for educators to provide adequate learning materials.
Professors are now faced with the daunting task of generating their own educational content while navigating the strict constraints enforced by the Taliban, raising concerns over the quality and standards of education.
