The women of Afghan will be allowed to continue their education "safely", as long as their studies are in line with the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic law, according to the militant group's acting minister of higher education Abdul Baqi Haqqani.

Haqqani added that mixed-gender classes would be banned. The announcement was made on Sunday (29/08/2021) at a "Loya Jirga", a meeting of the council of tribal and factional leaders in Afghanistan.

"Afghans will continue their higher education under Sharia law safely without being in a mixed environment of men and women," he said, according to AFP.

He added that the Taliban is creating a sensible and Islamic curriculum that is in line with Afghan Islamic, national and historical values, on the other hand it can still compete with other countries.

Most of schools in Afghanistan were already segregated by gender before the Taliban takeover earlier this month.

An estimated two-thirds of girls in the country are out of school, according to Human Rights Watch.

When the Taliban were previously in power from 1996 to 2001, it banned women and girls from working and school.

The group claims that going forward, it will respect women's rights under Islamic law in its interpretation.

The group also said it would not take revenge on Afghans who used to work with its enemies.

However, many are skeptical of the Taliban's sudden change in tactics.

Afghan women say the group has not consistently fulfilled its promise that girls can continue to attend school.

Earlier, CNN reported that a week after taking over Afghanistan, Taliban members beat up a rickshaw driver. The reason for that was because he was transporting a female teacher who was traveling without a male companion.

In some areas seized by the Taliban, women and girls are banned from going to school or leaving their homes without male escorts.

Thousands of people have tried to flee Afghanistan for fear the Taliban will reintroduce the oppressive regime.

Sorces : Kabul, compas.news