The Taliban stopped her mother’s education. Now they’re taking hers too

It was the day that Karishma had been waiting for and, during the 30-minute walk from her home to school in central Kabul, her excitement grew.

First the coronavirus had put the 17-year-old’s studies on hold and, when it looked as if an easing in the pandemic would allow her back into the classroom in September, the Taliban banned girls from attending school once more — a ban that was finally due to be lifted this week.

Her excitement was short-lived. The moment Karishma arrived at school on Wednesday morning she learnt that the new Taliban was just like the old version and that it had reneged on its months’ long promise to allow girls back into high school.

 “I had awoken at 6.30am because I was so excited,” Karishma said. “I had prepared my clothes, telling my mum that I was worried about the flower design on my abaya in case it was deemed inappropriate, and packed my bag with my schoolbooks. I was eager to get back into my classroom.”

Karishma had planned every aspect of her first day. Her brother accompanied her, as the family were worried she may face issues with the new authorities as a girl walking alone without a male relative, but when she reached the school gates she was met by Taliban members who asked her which grade she was in. “When I said I was in grade 2, they told me to go home. I couldn’t believe it,” she said.

Teaching staff had only learnt of the Taliban’s decision that morning and some had already started lessons.

The ministry of education, under the control of the Taliban again after it swept back into power last August, had made the right noises, publishing a statement urging “all students” to return to school days earlier.

The Taliban banned education for girls when it was last in power between 1996 and 2001, and performed its feared U-turn on the matter this week, claiming that the matter of uniforms had not been appropriately addressed.

Since she was a young girl, Karishma has had ambitions of becoming a journalist. “It’s a job that teaches you about the world and can take you to many different places,” she said. Now she does not believe that she will ever accomplish that dream — or go anywhere.

“I’ve lost all hope that I’ll be allowed back to school,” she said.

It is painful for her mother, who asked not to be named. “We are returning to how things were during the Taliban’s previous rule,” she said.

“I had just started my university degree and had to stop when the Taliban took control in 1996. I was never able to complete it. They don’t have any logic: the Prophet Muhammad said seeking knowledge is a right for men and women.”

Since the Taliban came to power this time, they have stipulated that female doctors and teachers should treat and teach women and girls. However, men and women have been allowed to return to universities, albeit with new restrictions and they must be segregated, so the decision to continue to deprive girls of a high school education has left many confused and pessimistic about the country’s future.

Many Afghans were already wanting to leave at a time of economic turmoil and fear over the new leadership. This latest act has pushed others towards the same conclusion: that there is no future here for the younger generation and the only option is to leave Afghanistan.

United States officials yesterday cancelled planned meetings with their Taliban counterparts over the group’s refusal to allow girls to return to secondary school.

“Their decision was a deeply disappointing and inexplicable reversal of commitments to the Afghan people, first and foremost, and also to the international community,” the US state department said.