University closed, teachers secretly teaching online: Afghan girls said - Taliban left only one task for us - give birth and raise children

'My name is Iram. I live in Afghanistan. He has done his Master's at Pune University. When India returned to Afghanistan, the Taliban government had come. They were saying that they will not take away the rights of girls, but it was all a lie. Our university closed. We can't go to the park. Can't go to market. Here all the roads are closed for us.

A decision of the Taliban government has stopped the education of thousands of girls like Iram. On December 21, 2022, the government banned girls from going to university. Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadeem wrote a letter to all private and government universities about this. The next day i.e. on 22 December, in an interview, he said that the girls were not following the dress code. She was wearing such clothes as if she was going to a wedding.

Like Iram, Shadleen Noorzai also missed her studies. Shadleen says that it is written in the Quran – read, but the Taliban are stopping us. Do they know that if we read it, we will ask them why there is fighting in the country? Taliban want girls only to give birth to children and raise them.

Started teaching on WhatsApp, instructed not to put a photo in my profile

Activists and teachers in Afghanistan are devising new ways to ensure that girls' education does not stop. Hasibullah Tarin, a former professor at Kabul University, has started an online class for girls. He is also teaching through WhatsApp class.

Tareen says that the safety of girls is a big issue. That's why we have changed the name and surname of every girl on WhatsApp. We are hiding his identity. They have been asked not to put photos on their profiles. Girls are also adopting every method to stay safe.

'Taliban returned with more radical ideology'

Girls like Iram regret that they spent their whole lives studying, but the Taliban government is not allowing them to use it. Iram says- I had thought that after studying I would do a job and help the family. Now, this path is closed for me.

Iram says that the decisions of the Taliban are telling that they have returned with a more radical ideology than before. Girls have been left alone in our country.

The only way to study online class

Shadleen Noorzai is a student of law and politics. They are Prof. Hasibullah is taking Tareen's class. Shadleen, who is studying in the third semester at a private university in Kabul, says- 'After the decision of the Taliban, our life is in balance. Online classes are the only way to continue your studies. Pro. Hasibullah Tareen is an expert in Political Science. His class is a good opportunity for me to keep studying.

Shadleen is studying Peace and Conflict Resolution, Human Rights, and English in online classes. She says- 'Afghanistan has always been bearing the brunt of war. To get out of the war, the people must have information. While studying Peace and Conflict Resolution, we understand the causes of conflict and war and start thinking about ending them.

It is in a verse of the Quran – Iqra means to read. Education is important for me, for girls like me, and everyone. No one says that there is no need to study, but the Taliban is stopping our studies. No one is educated in my house, so the family felt that it is necessary to educate the daughter. The family had to struggle a lot to get me to the university.

There are many other difficulties facing the women of Afghanistan. Only education can help them to come out of this situation. The Taliban do not want us to study, because if we are educated, they will ask questions. That's why the Taliban has broken the bridge that connects us to the future.

America-Europe friends are helping, but the internet and electricity problem

Prof who started online classes. Hasibullah Tarin says- 'Girls and women in Afghanistan have nothing to do. She has been imprisoned in the house. We want to allow them to do something and learn through online classes so that when the situation is better in the future, they will be ready.

I was deeply shocked when the Taliban stopped girls from going to university. I thought that somehow girls' education has to be continued. For this, I started online classes. I agree that the education system is a chain, if you cut it and want to join it again, it costs a lot. An entire generation has to pay this price. We want that the education system in Afghanistan should not to be completely ruined. Currently, we have two classes going on.

'In the next few days, we are going to start a class on human rights for girls. Apart from this, classes will also be started on International Organizations. Some friends living in Europe and America are helping us.

There is a problem with electricity here, so we are busy arranging power banks for the girls. Internet problem. Money is also needed for good internet speed. Our friends living outside Afghanistan are helping to solve technical problems. Many girls are from very poor families. They don't have internet.

Now there is only one way. Until the girls are allowed to go to the university, the university should be taken to them. However, running an online class is also not easy. Apart from internet speed, the safety of girls taking classes is also a big issue. We are taking every precaution.

Also Read: Afghanistan Women: 'We stand with the women of Afghanistan', US strongly condemns Taliban's recent move