Taliban-led Afghan administration suspends women from universities

Afghanistan’s Taliban-run higher education ministry has suspended access to universities by female students until further notice, drawing strong condemnation from the United States, Britain and the United Nations, Report informs referring to Reuters.

A letter, confirmed by a spokesperson for the higher education ministry, instructed Afghan public and private universities to suspend access to female students immediately, in accordance with a Cabinet decision.

The announcement by the Taliban administration, which has not been internationally recognized, came as the United Nations Security Council met in New York on Afghanistan.

Foreign governments, including the United States, have said that a change in policies on women’s education is needed before it can consider formally recognizing the Taliban-run administration, which is also subject to heavy sanctions.