The Taliban Mark Passports of Returning Female Students from Iran to Prevent Continuation of Their Education

Photo: REUTERS

In their latest repressive move, the Taliban have begun identifying and marking the passports of a number of Afghan female students who recently returned to Afghanistan for a short time from Iran. This action, aimed at preventing them from resuming their education, has triggered strong reactions and serious concern among human rights organizations.

Afghan human rights activists have reported that during the 12-day tension between Iran and Israel, several female students temporarily left Iran and returned to Afghanistan. However, upon their return, Taliban intelligence and security agencies marked their passports, an action with the clear intention of systematically depriving women of their right to education and continuing their academic exile.

Continuation of a Misogynistic Policy

This recent action is a continuation of the Taliban's repressive policies against women's rights, especially the right to education for girls. Previously, on the 23 August 2023, the Taliban had prevented a group of female students from departing Kabul Airport to their educational destinations abroad. At that time, dozens of girls, who had packed their academic dreams in their suitcases, were held back from flying; solely for being women and seeking knowledge.

The Taliban, as an illegitimate, regressive, and misogynistic regime, have effectively destroyed the educational structure for girls over the past four years. By banning education beyond sixth grade, shutting down universities for women, restricting travel, imposing the requirement of a male guardian (mahram), and now officially identifying and threatening female students educated abroad, they have effectively deprived Afghan society of half of its human potential.

Conclusion

Through their misogynistic and anti-education policies, the Taliban have not only stripped half of society of their fundamental rights, but are now attempting to turn studying abroad into a distant dream for girls. Marking passports and imposing restrictions on return are yet another step in the project of building a “silent Afghanistan”, a land where knowledge, women, and freedom are all forbidden.

Now is the time for the international community, human rights organizations, and advocates of education for all to raise their voices louder and take firmer action against the Taliban’s policy of gender and educational cleansing. Silence in the face of this crime is complicity with it.