Balkh, Afghanistan: A number of religious scholars at a meeting in Balkh called on the Islamic Emirate to immediately reopen schools for female students in grades 7-12..
The religious scholars said the need to educate girls is felt by Afghans more than ever, and the Islamic Emirate should not allow girls over grade six to be deprived of an education.
“We believe that a country with scientific cadres in all fields and disciplines will move toward progress and excellence, and men and women with religion and virtue can train an awake, purposeful and committed nation,” said Mawlawi Abu Hamid Hamidullah Hamidi, a religious scholar.
The religious scholars asked Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzadeh, the leader of the Islamic Emirate, to reopen girls’ high schools as soon as possible.
“The leaders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan are the compassionate individuals of the society. They love Muslim girls and want them to be educated like their own sons and daughters,” said Sheikh Mahboubeh al-Haq Makhdoomzadeh, head of Dar al-Ulum Abu zar Ghaffari.
Religious scholars consider the education of girls more important than ever and say that banning girls from receiving an education is not religion-based and that girls can be educated by observing the Islamic hijab.
“We ask the Amir al-Mu’minin Hibatullah Akhand and other officials who are related to this issue to open schools as soon as possible,” said Sheikh Mohammad Saeed Hashemi, a religious scholar.
Since the beginning of the school year, girls’ schools above the sixth grade have been closed in the country, which has provoked global and domestic reactions.
