No country can develop without education: Stanekzai – Pakistan Observer

The political deputy of the Foreign Ministry, Sher Mohammad Abas Stanekzai, speaking at a ceremony at the Kajaki Dam, said the Islamic Emirate is committed to providing education for all Afghans. He emphasized that no country can develop without education.

“No country can develop without education, and the Islamic Emirate will open it for the citizens of the country, the reopening of a way to education is also Jihad and it should be done,” he said.

Meanwhile, a video which is circulating on social network, shows that a woman standing up to the authorities of the Islamic Emirate and strongly criticizing the closing of girls’ schools.

This comes as some of the participants of the Tashkent Conference also discussed ensuring women’s rights and the reopening of girls’ schools.

The US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, in an interview with Uzreport World TV channel, said that the US, in cooperation with the OIC, is trying to reopen girls’ schools in Afghanistan.

“I think it has been very important for us to work with the Muslim world, with the OIC, with Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, these are the countries who can speak with the Taliban and with their Ulema community, with the Afghan Ulema community, with a lot of credibility about this issue. Now, in the Quran, education is not just allowed, it is a religious obligation, that is something that I have learned in speaking with Muslims, with Ulemas, from watching Ulema communities across Afghanistan stand up and oppose this ban. And so, we are working hard to see it reversed,” he said.

The US special envoy for Afghan women and human rights, Rina Amiri, said that most Afghans aspire for education, work and opportunities for a better future for their sons and daughters.

“I countered claims that the Taliban’s regressive policies are based on Afghan culture, arguing that most Afghans aspire for education, work and opportunities for a better future for their sons and daughters. Was heartened to see international solidarity in support of girls’ right to education and strong support for women’s right to work in order to contribute to the economy. Whereas most called for an inclusive political process, no one expressed support for Taliban recognition,” she tweeted.

It has been over 11 months since the closing of girls’ schools above the sixth grade, and there has yet to be any decision on their reopening.

Meanwhile, Answering for the closing of girls’ schools above sixth grade, the spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, in an interview with CGTN TV said that the strict views of most Afghan people on the issue of education and women caused the girls’ schools to remain closed.

Balkhi added that they are trying to solve this problem.

“This suspension is a temporary suspension, and it is not a permanent ban, it has never been called a ban. There is a large percentage of society that has very strict ideas of what women can do and what they cannot do, and for that reason, the government is trying to take an approach that is gradual, it takes those people that do not understand some of the basic Islamic rights of Afghan citizens or of any human being, and the human rights, to try to convince them. It is due to lack of knowledge of that part of the society,” he said.

Meanwhile, girls who have been prevented from going to school for more than eleven months are asking the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for them.

“When women are not allowed to see a namhram, then who should treat a woman when she gets sick?” asked Fariha, a student.

“It is very disappointing and we ask the Islamic Emirate to reopen our schools,” said a student.

“If a government wants to have a progressive and developed society, there is no other way except with education and interaction with the community,” said Waheeda Adalatjo, university lecturer.

It has been over 300 days since girls’ schools have been closed, Kabul’s officials have said that it depends upon the order of the leader of Islamic Emirate.

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