KABUL (Pajhwok): This week’s Tanazur debate from Pajhwok Afghan News Twitter Space platform discussed ban on women education in which experts shared interesting views on the topic.
Some participants believed that the teaching of Islam were against the losses that would be incurred due to the ban on women education till further notice while others believed that acting government was not against women education but it was against co-education, tight uniform, violation of Hijab and other related problems.
Acting government recently banned women higher education till further notice and barred women from working in the International None Governmental Organisation (INGOs).
On Saturday evening Tanazur debate discussed ban on women education in which four panelists took part. The Twitter Space was viewed by 2,097 persons live.
Zahid’s views:
Religious scholar Dr. Rahmatullah Zahid said: “Nobody could stop a human being from getting education. Decision to ban someone from getting education is against the teaching of Islam and as well as the violation of basic human rights.”
He said even till further notice ban on women education will have unaffordable consequences and that will not be acceptable to Islam as well.
“If ban on education is for a short time, it is not acceptable for me. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is responsible to reopen schools and universities for women as soon as possible,” he said.
“The western world have clear goals regarding women education and their right to work. The fact that there were foreigners for more than 20 years in Afghanistan it may have left some impact but it never meant that the entire system should be challenged, if there are some problems that need to corrected,” said Zahid.
“If there is problem in the curriculum so this is not the right thinking because if a curriculum could mislead the ideology of a girl it could leave same impact on boys mentality as well.”
He stressed the eradication of Taliban was not a solution because they are currently in power and Afghanistan could no more afford regime changes.
Shabnam’s views
Former Human Rights Commission Member Shabnam Salihi said: “The Taliban recent decision was a clear violation of human rights and their commitment made in Doha Pact. With this they showed that they are unchanged.”
She said in Afghanistan, 25 percent families are looked after by women financially and banning women from education faced these families with economic issues.
“The issue of delaying women’s education and work is linked to culture, so the protests of people in Nangarhar, Kandahar and other provinces have shown that this is not a cultural issue, but rather the Taliban’s own desire. It is neither related to religion nor to the culture of Afghanistan,” she said.
Salehi added in current circumstances getting education was as vital and necessary as eating food and getting oxygen, adding that people have no need to seek religious permission for eating and breathing.
“Why should the whole society sink because of one person’s crime, and if excuses are made, then this is not a solution; In the past (during the first period of the Islamic Emirate), the issue of the second order was not resolved, and today, the ban on secondary education has been 18 months, but the conditions have not been provided,” she said.
She termed recent acting government decision as politically motivated and added, the acting government wanted to enter recognition deal.
She said resolution to all issues was linked with an eligible government which should be established.
He said current officials could not destroy the lives of Afghans and if things move this way people would revolt.
Osuli added acting government should introduce a law on the bases of consensus because law was vital for the continuity of a government so that people have proper understanding of the situation.
“There is need to recognize the Taliban because they are the reality of this society and the Taliban should also recognize us and others, there is need for a middle way to take Afghanistan out of current crisis,” he added.
Waseel’s views:
Writer Sibghatullah Waseel, said that there was different views regarding religious and modern education in Islam, adding that there was need for some modern education that is based on human wisdom and experience in order to accomplish human needs.
He said unfriendly circumstances forced ban on women education and work, there was opposition existed with women education.
“Officials views showed that government was against Hijab violation; make up, tight cladding and other issues. The fact that Afghanistan was under occupation so there is the impact of feminism existed.”
According to Waseel the issue was about women equality which against wisdom. Islam views that women work should be based on necessity but west viewed it as principle.
He said there was need for a practical solution, adding that nobody was against education but IEA held huge responsibility to ensure the provision of condition for education.
Writer and Poet Shafiqa Khapalwak said: “If today Afghan girls deprived from education the survival of Afghanistan would be difficult in the future.”
She added there was need for active participation of women in the distribution of humanitarian aid because men could not address women problems.
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