Taliban Enforces Ban on Women's Literature in Afghan Universities

Sun Oct 19 2025 07:32:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a move that further restricts educational freedoms, the Taliban government has banned 140 books written by women from Afghan universities. The ban also encompasses courses on human rights and topics related to women's studies, marking a significant step back for women's rights in the country.

The Taliban has imposed a ban on university courses and books authored by women across Afghanistan, citing contradictions with Sharia law. This action, part of a broader crackdown on educational content deemed 'inappropriate,' targets 140 titles authored by women and 18 subjects, compounding existing restrictions on women's access to education and voicing concerns about the academic isolation of Afghan institutions.

The Taliban government has removed books written by women from the university teaching system in Afghanistan as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.

Some 140 books by women - including titles like Safety in the Chemical Laboratory - were among 680 books found to be of concern due to anti-Sharia and Taliban policies.

The universities were further told they were no longer allowed to teach 18 subjects, with a Taliban official saying they were in conflict with the principles of Sharia and the system's policy.

This decree is the latest in a series of restrictions imposed since the Taliban retook power four years ago.

Just this week, fibre-optic internet was banned in at least 10 provinces on the orders of the Taliban's supreme leader in a move official sources said was to prevent immorality.

Women and girls have faced particularly harsh restrictions: they are barred from accessing education beyond sixth grade, with pathways to advanced training eliminated last year, including the cessation of midwifery programs.

The ban also targets courses specifically focused on women, including Gender and Development and Women's Sociology.

A member of the review committee confirmed to BBC Afghan that all books authored by women are not allowed to be taught. Zakia Adeli, a former deputy minister of justice and an author on the banned list, expressed her lack of surprise: Given the Taliban's misogynistic mindset, it is natural that when women themselves are not allowed to study, their views and writings are also suppressed.

The Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education indicated that these decisions were based on guidance from a panel of religious scholars and experts.

Worryingly, this ban extends to authors and content from Iran, with officials stating that it is necessary to prevent unwanted ideologies from influencing Afghan education.

Lecturers have raised concerns about the academic implications, noting that the exclusion of Iranian texts, which serve as a vital link to the global academic community, creates a significant void in higher education standards.

Under the current circumstances, educators are left grappling with how to prepare course materials that meet both Taliban expectations and established educational standards.