Afghanistan’s Taliban government has introduced new restrictions on education, banning books written by women and removing 18 subjects from university curricula, including human rights, gender studies, and sexual harassment courses.
The move has sparked global concern over a growing educational void that could isolate Afghan students from international academic standards.
A directive issued in late August ordered universities to withdraw more than 680 books deemed “in conflict with Sharia principles and government policy.”
Among them, 140 were authored by women, ranging from social sciences and gender studies to scientific works such as Safety in the Chemical Laboratory.
Officials confirmed that 18 subjects are now prohibited, six of which are directly related to women.
These include Gender and Development, Women’s Sociology, and The Role of Women in Communication.
University lecturers say the ban not only restricts learning but also erases women’s contributions to academic thought.
The Taliban have steadily tightened education rules since returning to power four years ago.
Last year, they shut down midwifery courses, suspended girls’ schooling beyond grade six, and recently restricted internet access in at least 10 provinces.
The latest ban adds another layer of control, silencing both women’s voices and topics tied to human rights.
“All books authored by women are not allowed to be taught,” a government book review committee member confirmed.
Former Afghan deputy justice minister Zakia Adeli, one of the affected authors, said the decision reflects the regime’s entrenched hostility toward women.
“Given the Taliban’s misogynistic mindset, it is only natural that when women are not allowed to study, their views and writings are also suppressed,” she stated.
The order also targets Iranian content. Of the 679 banned titles, 310 were authored or published in Iran.
Taliban officials argued the step was necessary to prevent what they called “the infiltration of Iranian content” into Afghan universities.
Professors warn the purge could leave dangerous gaps in academic resources. “Books by Iranian authors often serve as Afghanistan’s main link to global research,” one academic explained.
“Removing them creates a substantial void in higher education.”
Others worry that local replacements will lack international quality.
“We are forced to prepare chapters ourselves,” a Kabul University professor said. “But whether these can meet global standards remains doubtful.”
Despite repeated criticism, the Taliban claim they respect women’s rights according to their interpretation of Islamic law.
They have not issued a direct response to the latest concerns.
For Afghan students and scholars, however, the message is clear: voices that challenge the regime’s ideology especially women’s voices are being erased from the classroom.
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