International Literacy Day: The Taliban and the Silent Crime Against Afghan Girls

Photo: AP/Ebrahim Noroozi

When the world emphasizes the right to education, Kabul sinks into darkness

On September 8, the world once again marked International Literacy Day; a day that reminds us of the fundamental right of every human being to read and write. But in Afghanistan, where the Taliban have banned girls’ education through their decrees, this day has become less a celebration and more a reminder of silence and repression.

The Education Crisis Under the Taliban

According to UNESCO and UNICEF reports, since the Taliban’s return in August 2021:

• At least 1.4 to 2.5 million Afghan girls have been deprived of secondary and higher education.

• This deprivation equals 80% of school-age girls.

• In total, nearly 2.2 million girls have no access to education beyond grade six.

• If the ban continues, by 2030 more than 4 million girls will be excluded from the education system.

It is also estimated that each Afghan girl has lost more than 3,600 hours of education over the past three years.

Lost Achievements

During the Republic era, Afghanistan, despite challenges, witnessed relative progress:

• The literacy rate of adult women rose from 17% in 2011 to 30% in 2018.

• Women’s enrollment in universities in 2020 increased to more than 21% of all students.

• Girls’ education contributed to a decline in infant mortality and an increase in per capita income from 810 dollars (2001) to 2,590 dollars (2020).

With the ban on education, the Taliban have effectively destroyed these fragile achievements.

Human and Economic Consequences

Health

UNICEF has warned that the educational deprivation of women could result in 1,600 additional maternal deaths and 3,500 newborn deaths, as the shortage of female nurses and doctors will fuel a medical crisis.

Economy

According to calculations by international organizations, Afghanistan loses 2.5% of its GDP annually, equivalent to 5.4 billion dollars, due to the educational deprivation of girls.

Society

The rise in child marriage, forced labor, domestic violence, depression, and even suicide among girls are direct consequences of these bans.

Resistance in Darkness

Despite the pressure, the voice of resistance has not been silenced:

• Underground networks, such as the Parasto Hakim Initiative in 16 provinces, are educating more than 2,800 girls in 35 underground schools.

• Digital platforms such as LEARN Afghanistan are providing secret online classes for hundreds of female students.

  
  

These movements show that books and pens, even in the darkest conditions, remain tools of resistance.

The Voice of the World and the Silence of the Taliban

Roza Otunbayeva, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Afghanistan, recently said: “Books are not only the source of knowledge, but also a path to achieving sustainable well-being. Providing equal access to education is vital for the future of Afghanistan.”

But the Taliban, still ignoring these warnings, justify their policy as “religious” and “cultural,” a lie in complete contradiction with Islamic teachings and international human rights instruments.

Conclusion: A Global Test in Kabul

International Literacy Day must remind the global community of this truth:

Silence in the face of the Taliban means complicity in extinguishing the light of knowledge.

If the world insists on “sustainable development” and “education for all,” the real test lies today in Afghanistan.

In a country where the Taliban snatch the pen from the hands of girls, every secret classroom, every page turned, and every girl who continues to learn is a loud voice of freedom and resistance.