Female students and educators have been barred from Kabul University until the institution provides "a real Islamic environment", the Taliban's new chancellor for the university has announced.
In the wake of the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, there were concerns that under its new regime, women's rights in the country would be under serious threat once again.
Now, Taliban appointee Mohammad Ashraf Ghairat has confirmed that the group will be rolling back the right for women to attend Kabul University.
He wrote in a tweet on Monday, September 27: "Folks! I give you my words as chancellor of Kabul University. As long as a real Islamic environment is not provided for all, women will not be allowed to come to universities or work. Islam first."
The move is reminiscent of their previous regime between 1996 and 2001, when women were only permitted to be in public if accompanied by a male chaperone. They would be beaten if they disobeyed such draconian restrictions and were barred from schools.
Some female university workers, who had been previously able to gain employment in further education with relative ease, have opposed the move, suggesting that it is wrong for the Taliban to take it upon themselves to decide what is allowed within the Islamic faith.
Several female educators anonymously shared their views on the new policy while speaking to The New York Times.
One female lecture told the paper: "In this holy place, there was nothing un-Islamic. Presidents, teachers, engineers, and even mullahs are trained here and gifted to society. Kabul University is the home to the nation of Afghanistan."
Shortly after the Taliban seized control of the country last month, officials repeatedly insisted that this regime, unlike the previous Taliban regime, would uphold women's rights, AP News reports.
They vowed that women would be allowed to study, work, and be included in government. A Taliban spokesman even agreed to a televised interview with a female journalist.
Since taking power in August, though, the Taliban has not included any women in its cabinet, per The New York Times.
The government is also prohibiting women from going back to work, in a supposedly temporary measure due to security concerns.
