The Taliban has once again tightened its grip on education in Afghanistan, this time by banning books authored by women from being used in universities. The sweeping directive, issued in late August 2025, further restricts academic freedom in a country already struggling under years of gender-based educational oppression.Alongside the ban on women's books, the Taliban prohibited the teaching of 18 subjects deemed incompatible with their interpretation of Sharia law. These include human rights, gender and development, women's sociology, sexual harassment, and the role of women in communication. Such subjects had been among the last remaining academic spaces where women's lives and voices could be studied.
The crackdown extended beyond gender-related fields. Even science-oriented works, such as Safety in the Chemical Laboratory, were outlawed for allegedly being "anti-Taliban." This highlights the extent to which the group is willing to sacrifice practical knowledge in order to maintain ideological control over education.
In addition, Taliban authorities announced that 310 books by Iranian authors and publishers are now banned. Officials justified the move by claiming it was necessary to prevent "Iranian influence" in Afghan classrooms, revealing the regime's fear of external cultural or intellectual input.
The assault on knowledge is not new. Since retaking power in 2021, the Taliban has barred girls from attending school beyond grade six. In 2024, midwifery courses—vital for women's healthcare—were also shut down, further weakening opportunities for women in critical professions.
These policies have dire consequences beyond the classroom. In a recent earthquake, women trapped under rubble were left without rescue, as unrelated men were forbidden from touching them. The tragedy underscored how rigid interpretations of law directly endanger women's lives.
Afghanistan now faces a future where half its population is silenced academically, professionally, and socially. The systematic erasure of women's knowledge and participation risks deepening the nation's humanitarian, health, and development crises for generations to come.
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