Saudi Arabia has called on the Taliban government to withdraw from the decision to ban women's higher education in Afghanistan. On Wednesday (December 21), the Saudi Foreign Ministry requested the Afghan government reconsider this decision.
On Tuesday (December 20), the Taliban government banned women from universities in Afghanistan. The ban was announced in a letter issued by the higher education minister of the government. The letter states that universities for women in Afghanistan will remain closed until further notice.
The decision of the Taliban government has caused great controversy around the world. Surprised about Muslim countries too. A day after the announcement, Saudi Arabia called to withdraw from this decision. The main Muslim monarchical country in the Middle East has expressed surprise at this decision of the Taliban.
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According to a statement issued by the Saudi Foreign Ministry, this decision will deprive Afghan women of their full legal and fundamental rights to education. As a result, their contribution to the security, stability, development, and prosperity of the country will be affected.
A little more than a year ago, the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan. After seizing power, they introduced separate classrooms and entrances for women in Afghan universities. Then female students in the university could only be taught by female teachers or older male teachers.
Finally, the Taliban government closed that opportunity. After hearing this ban by the Taliban, Afghan women broke down in despair. According to the BBC, many female students were seen hugging each other and crying on a university campus in the capital, Kabul, after the ban on Tuesday.
The BBC also reported that a student said in an interview that she thinks the Taliban are afraid of women and women's power. The student further said, 'They (Taliban) have destroyed the bridge (education) that could have connected me to my future.'
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Even though it is a conservative Muslim country, women in Saudi Arabia have unlimited opportunities for higher education. According to a report, most women in the country have at least passed higher secondary. In 2009, a Saudi woman named Noora Al-Faiz was appointed as the Minister of State for Education in Saudi Arabia. And in 2013, 30 women were made members of the Saudi Shura Council by the late King Abdullah.
Apart from this, the government has allowed many Saudi women to go abroad for higher education. And the last example of Saudi women's progress is participation in the country's municipal elections and winning various seats. The largest women's university in the world is located in Saudi Arabia. Princess Noorah bint Abdur Rahman University located in the capital Riyadh is currently the largest women's education center in the world.
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