UNAMA lamented the Taliban’s decision to keep schools closed to girls

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) tweeted today that it regretted Taliban officials’ announcement that schools would be closed to female students.

In addition to UNAMA, several other international organizations have reacted to the Taliban decision.

Amnesty International also tweeted that the Taliban had decided to extend the closure of girls’ schools, saying that the international community should take immediate action to ensure that Afghan girls can continue their education.

Meanwhile, Heidar Barr, director of the women’s section of Human Rights Watch, called the Taliban’s decision “cruel” and tweeted, “It’s hard to think of an explanation other than deliberate oppression.”

Earlier, Taliban officials said all schools across the country would be open to girls and boys on March 23, but the group’s Ministry of Education announced today that girls’ secondary and high schools will remain closed to students.

The ministry said the reason for the schools being closed was the uniform design for girls, saying that if school uniforms were designed in accordance with Afghan law, customs and culture, girls’ schools would be reopened under a Taliban leadership order.