Afghanistan: Taliban Prohibits Dozens of Books Authored by Women from Universities

Image: Jihad Watch

Out of a total of 679 textbooks that have recently been prohibited by the Taliban administration, 140 were authored by women, while another 310 originated from Iranian writers or publishers. The sweeping ban was introduced under new educational directives issued in late August, significantly reshaping the academic landscape in Afghanistan’s universities.

Reports indicate that the Taliban has explicitly barred all 140 books authored by women from being taught at higher education institutions. This move highlights the administration’s continuing efforts to suppress female voices in academic and intellectual spaces, further restricting opportunities for women to contribute to knowledge and discourse.

In addition to targeting women’s work, the ban also encompasses 310 textbooks linked to Iranian authors or publishers, reflecting the Taliban’s growing suspicion toward external cultural and ideological influences.

The decision was formally conveyed to Afghan universities in a letter written by Ziaur Rahman Aryoubi, the Deputy Academic Director of the Ministry of Higher Education. According to the letter, a designated panel of “religious scholars and experts” reviewed the textbooks and concluded that they were incompatible with the Taliban’s interpretation of Sharia law.

Aryoubi explained that the committee’s evaluation considered various dimensions of the material, including ideological, cultural, religious, and scientific content. Books that were perceived as challenging or contradicting the Taliban’s strict worldview were deemed unacceptable for academic use and therefore prohibited.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)