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World Service,3 mins

Afghanistan: Student 'heartbroken' after Taliban backtrack on school reopening

Newshour

Available for over a year

The Taliban seized control in August 2021, and the country remains in crisis, with a lack of aid meaning the country is facing a dire shortage of food.聽One area of dispute between the Taliban and the international community is over access to education for women and girls.聽 Secondary school students were finally meant to be returning to the classroom today - but the hopes of girl students were dashed at the last minute when the Taliban abruptly changed their minds.聽 One student describes her reaction. She said she believes that this was a bad decision, and that she was "heartbroken and speechless" when she discovered she would not be able to attend her classes today. She says that in her view, Islam allows girls to study, and that girls should be educated and given the freedom to pursue other activities such as sports, as in other Islamic countries. She says she dreams of being a human rights defender, and now doesn't know how she will be able to achieve that. "My message for the Taliban is, don't make limitations for us. These limitations cannot stop us. Make a good decision and help us change society and change our lives." Photo: Girls arrive at their school in Kabul on March 23, 2022, hours before it was ordered to close once more by the Taliban Credit: Getty Images

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