Afghanistan: universities almost empty on the first day of the Taliban’s gender segregation

Kabul’s private universities appeared virtually empty on Monday as the gender segregation in classrooms the Taliban imposed after their return to power began.

In addition, the new authorities imposed the niab (a traditional garment that leaves only the eyes visible) for women, although in some universities students have taken the Hello (covering the head and chest but exposing the face).

“There is no one, there are no students», They told the AFP custodians of two graduate schools. Two other universities reported that attendance was very low.

Ramadan ramadan, professor of computer science at the University of Gharjistan in the Afghan capital, said that “most of the students do not come” to classes

And he added: “We don’t even know if they’re still in the country”.

Tens of thousands of Afghans, mostly professionals or students, fled Afghanistan after the Taliban seized power on August 15.

University students who have remained in the country “fear the Taliban and do not know what the future holds,” Ramazan added.

The new rules

The Taliban banned women from studying during the regime that ruled the country between 1996 and 2001, when they were overthrown by the American invasion after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Today, after returning to power after the withdrawal of US troops, the Taliban announced that it agreed to allow women to study at private universities but under strict conditions.

Students will not be allowed to mingle with men in classrooms and must wear a black abaya and a nicab, a traditional Muslim garment that covers part of their face.

Additionally, female academics will have to leave the classroom five minutes before the male and wait in a room until the last student has left the building.

Separated by a curtain

According to AFPSome universities have bowed to the orders of the Taliban, such as the Ibn-e Sina Faculty of Economics, which has installed curtains to separate men from women.

“They imposed the decision on us, we could not oppose it,” he explained. Jalil Tadjil, spokesperson for the university. But very few students came on Monday “due to the uncertainty,” he added.

The halls of Gharjistan University in Kabul are also almost empty. “Of our 1,000 students, less than 200 came today,” says its director, Noor Ali Rahmani.

In a meeting at the ministry on Sunday, he said, his university made it clear that it disagreed with the Taliban.

“We said we wouldn’t accept (the niab) because it’s too difficult to enforce it. Our students wear a headscarf. We told them it was not written in the Quran“, He stated.

Other requirements

The Taliban also demand that only female teachers or “older” men, whose morals have been tested, can teach women.

Computer science student Amir Hussain, 28, said the arrival of the Taliban had significantly reduced prospects for students, but said she did not believe the universities would close. “Those who can go abroad will leave,” he said.

“But the others will have to follow the rules, they will have no choice, otherwise they will be punished,” he said.