OIC urges Taliban to ensure education for women

A delegation of Muslim scholars from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reminded Afghanistan’s interim Taliban government yesterday that education is an “Islamic obligation for both men and women”.

They discussed the issue with Afghan Education Minister Mawlawi Habibullah Agha and Higher Education Minister Mawlawi Nida Muhammad Nadim in the capital Kabul, Anadolu Agency quoted a statement issued by OIC.

“During the meetings, both sides stressed that education is an Islamic obligation for both men and women, with the consensus of the ummah (Muslim community) scholars,” the statement added.

According to the OIC, the delegation of Muslim scholars and thinkers arrived in Kabul last Thursday to meet with Afghan scholars along with ministers and officials of the de facto government.

The delegation “stressed the need to exert all effort to enable boys and girls to enrol in all levels of education and all specialisations needed by the Afghan people at this critical stage in their history”, said the statement.

Taliban officials briefed the delegation on the efforts exerted by the interim administration “in reviewing curricula and providing a safe environment for girls’ education throughout the country”, it said.

It added that the scholars “confirmed the readiness of the OIC member states to provide all possible support in this regard”.

Notably, the delegation met with Afghan acting Interior Minister Khalifa Sirajuddin Haqqani on Monday, who said education was a “shared need of Muslims” and had urged “patience” on the issue of girls’ education in the war-torn nation.

- Bernama-Anadolu

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