Academic Groups Condemn Taliban’s Removal of Nearly 700 Educational Books
Academic groups and women’s rights organizations have condemned the Taliban’s decision to remove nearly 700 books from Afghan universities, including over 140 authored by women, as part of a broader crackdown on education and academic freedom.
Kokcha News Agency – The Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education has ordered the removal of 679 books from university curricula in Afghanistan, deeming them “contrary to Sharia” and “anti-Taliban.”
According to a report published by Ward News on Sunday, October 6, more than a fifth of the banned books were authored by women, and some were published by Iranian writers and publishers.
The banned books cover a wide range of subjects, including human rights, democracy, women’s studies, sociology of women, statistics, photography theory, and conflict management in business. The Taliban’s decision has also led to the suspension of 18 university programs.
This move has sparked widespread outrage among academic groups and women’s rights organizations, who argue that it represents a severe restriction on academic freedom and further marginalizes women in Afghan society.
The Taliban’s crackdown on education has raised concerns about the future of academic freedom in Afghanistan, particularly for women, who have already faced significant restrictions under the regime.
The removal of these books is seen as part of a broader effort to suppress dissenting voices and enforce a rigid interpretation of Islamic law.
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