M'sia Hopes Taliban Would Reconsider Its Decision To Ban Women From Going To Universities
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin has called the ban detrimental to the educational development of Muslims.
By Nurul Qistina — 28 Dec 2022, 11:58 AM
The Taliban's decision to ban women from universities in Afghanistan has sparked international condemnation, with Malaysia calling it detrimental to the educational development of Muslims
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who is from UMNO, said that he has written a letter to the Taliban, hoping that they will rethink the decision.
In a statement issued yesterday, 27 December, Khaled said that the letter was delivered to Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the Acting Higher Education Minister in Afghanistan's Taliban government, through the country's Ambassador to Malaysia, Dr Moheb Rahman Spinghar.
"I have shared with the Honourable Minister, among others, our country's experience and practice in Malaysia to honour women who contribute primarily to our national interest agenda," he said in the statement.
"I am very saddened to learn about the decision of Afghanistan's Higher Education Ministry on the recent banning of women from Afghanistan's higher institutions."
Neda, however, has defended his decision to ban women from going to universities.
Khaled further stated that Malaysian women have significantly boosted the nation's reputation through the good education that they were provided
With the help of education, he also said it encourages women to utilise their potential and talents as equal partners in diverse industries that have helped its goal of becoming a high-income nation.
"I believe that education for Afghan women will make them a valuable asset to the nation and help build resilience, stability, and strong social cohesion towards nation-building," Khaled said.
Meanwhile, Nadeem claimed that several issues had prompted the decision
"We told girls to have proper hijab but they didn't, and they wore dresses like they were going to a wedding ceremony," he was reported as saying by The Guardian.
"Girls were studying agriculture and engineering, but this didn’t match Afghan culture. Girls should learn, but not in areas that go against Islam and Afghan honour."
Nadeem added that the Taliban "asked the world not to interfere in our affairs" as discussions over female education were ongoing.
Female students protesting against the Taliban's ban on university education for women.
Image via Daily Mail