Taliban orders closure of girls schools just hours after reopening in Afghanistan

In Afghanistan, the Taliban yesterday ordered closure of girls secondary schools just hours after they reopened. A Taliban spokesperson has confirmed the report. Crestfallen students, back at school for the first time since the Taliban seized power in August last year, tearfully packed up their belongings and returned home.

In a tweet, United Nations envoy Deborah Lyons called reports



of the closure disturbing.  When the Taliban took over last August, schools were closed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but only boys and younger girls were allowed to resume classes two months later. There were fears the Taliban would shut down all formal education for girls, as they did during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.