KABUL: Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai on Sunday called on the ruling Taliban to reopen high schools for girls and applauded female students in the eastern province of Paktia who residents said publicly protested the measure.
“The voice of Paktia students is the voice of all our girls and of Afghanistan,” Karzai tweeted. “We are asking the interim Islamic government to open the schools,” he said. The Taliban suddenly backed out of their promise to open girls’ high schools in March. Authorities in Paktia said this week that girls’ high schools have reopened, although the move has not been officially approved. But three residents and three Taliban officials said schools were closed on Saturday. One person said the closure prompted the girls to protest. Video footage showed dozens of girls marching down a street singing.
“The voice of Paktia students is the voice of all our girls and of Afghanistan,” Karzai tweeted. “We are asking the interim Islamic government to open the schools,” he said. The Taliban suddenly backed out of their promise to open girls’ high schools in March. Authorities in Paktia said this week that girls’ high schools have reopened, although the move has not been officially approved. But three residents and three Taliban officials said schools were closed on Saturday. One person said the closure prompted the girls to protest. Video footage showed dozens of girls marching down a street singing.
