Why Afghan Men's Solidarity For Women Banned From Education Matters

Women in Afghanistan had already been suffering bans on their public appearances when a Taliban spokesperson announced that they decided to ban women from all private and public universities with immediate effect.

The announcement was followed by mass protests across the nation with female students having access to just one fundamental right of education among others. With this being taken away, their rage grew over the past week. While the rest world is standing in support of the women, their male counterparts in Afghanistan coming out in solidarity with them is a huge gain in the fight to get back their right to learning.

The footage that has gone viral on social media shows how male students at both Nangarhar and Kandahar University refused to sit for their exams and walked out of the classes in protest.

Suggested reading: Taliban Bans Women From Attending Universities In Afghanistan

Afghan Men Boycott Classes

Last week, the higher education minister announced that women must immediately stop pursuing education at all private and public universities. After being banned from gyms and amusement parks, this comes as the latest setback in the freedom rights of women.

While the Taliban promised earlier that they would look out for women's rights and not compromise on their education, this latest announcement takes away everything that women in the land have been working towards and dreaming of.

Girls in Afghanistan were already excluded from secondary school education since the extremist group took over the country in 2021.

In a video uploaded recently on social media, a large group of male students across universities in Afghanistan walked out of their classes during the day of their exams introvert o express solidarity with their female counterparts. The students were seen demonstrating with placards and shouting slogans against the oppressive ban.

Protesting against the Taliban regime, the male students staged a powerful walkout and protested against the government. In a land where men and women are treated differently with women not being given even half the rights men have, Afghani men standing up for women’s education is a significant step.

The walkout may have been for the education rights of women but it comes across as a larger buildup against a regime that is focused on oppressing women in all spheres of life. With Afghani men supporting women in the country, there seems to be little hope for the other half of the nation that has been fighting for equal treatment and opportunities.