Former Afghan President Karzai tweets his support of protesting female students

By Mohammad Yunus Yawar

KABUL – Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai referred to as on the ruling Taliban on Sunday to re-open women’ excessive colleges and applauded feminine college students within the jap province of Paktia who residents mentioned have been publicly protesting in opposition to the measure.

“The voice of Paktia’s feminine college students is the voice of all our women and of Afghanistan,” mentioned Karzai, who remained in Kabul after the Taliban took over simply over a yr in the past, on Twitter.

“We ask the performing Islamic authorities to open the colleges,” he mentioned.

The ruling Taliban made a sudden U-turn on guarantees to open women’ highschools in March, leaving some feminine college students who had turned as much as class in tears.

Authorities in Paktia mentioned this week that women’ excessive colleges had re-opened, although the transfer had not been formally permitted.

On Saturday, the pinnacle of Paktia’s info division advised journalists any suggestion colleges have been closed was “propaganda”.

However three residents and three Taliban officers, who all declined to be named, advised Reuters that colleges have been shut on Saturday. The residents, one in every of whom is a trainer, requested to stay nameless for safety causes and mentioned the closure had prompted some women to protest.

Video footage proven by native broadcaster Tolo on its web site and Twitter account confirmed dozens of ladies at school uniform marching down a road whereas chanting. Reuters couldn't independently confirm the footage.

Taliban schooling officers in Paktia and Kabul didn't reply to a request for remark. The group’s spokesperson declined to remark.

The Taliban sources, who requested for anonymity as they weren't authorised to talk publicly on the matter, mentioned many within the group needed women to have the ability to go to highschool.

The Taliban have mentioned that they're engaged on a plan to re-open excessive colleges for women, however haven't specified when.

Main-school aged women and feminine college college students are nonetheless in a position to attend class.