Taliban Imposes New Ban on Books Written by Women in Afghan Universities

Mon Oct 13 2025 19:44:59 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

The Taliban government continues its series of restrictions, now banning books authored by women from Afghan university curricula, affecting the academic landscape amid ongoing concerns for women's rights.

In a significant move to curb female representation in education, the Taliban has banned approximately 140 books written by women, stripping Afghan universities of essential academic materials. This decree, part of a broader tightening of educational content, also prohibits the teaching of numerous subjects, highlighting the regime's agenda against women and external influences. Critics warn that the absence of these books creates a substantial educational void.

Taliban Imposes New Ban on Books Written by Women in Afghan Universities

The Taliban government has removed books written by women from the university teaching system in Afghanistan as part of a new ban which has also outlawed the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment.

Some 140 books by women - including titles like Safety in the Chemical Laboratory - were among 680 books found to be of concern due to anti-Sharia and Taliban policies. The universities were further told they were no longer allowed to teach 18 subjects, with a Taliban official saying they were in conflict with the principles of Sharia and the system's policy.

The decree is the latest in a series of restrictions which the Taliban have brought in since returning to power four years ago. Just this week, fibre-optic internet was banned in at least 10 provinces on the orders of the Taliban's supreme leader in a move officials said was to prevent immorality.

While the rules have impacted many aspects of life, women and girls have been particularly hard-hit: they are barred from accessing education over the sixth grade, with midwifery courses shuttered in late 2024. Now, even university subjects about women have been targeted, with six of the 18 banned being specifically related to women, including Gender and Development and Women's Sociology.

'A void in education'

A member of the committee reviewing the books confirmed the ban on books written by women, asserting that all books authored by women are not allowed to be taught. Zakia Adeli, a former deputy minister of justice, highlighted the inherent misogyny in the Taliban’s decisions, stating, Given the Taliban's misogynistic mindset and policies, it is only natural that when women themselves are not allowed to study, their views, ideas, and writings are also suppressed.

The Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education, backed by a panel of religious scholars, defended its actions by citing the need to prevent the infiltration of undesirable content, including works by Iranian authors. Critics fear this will hinder Afghanistan's academic connectivity with the international community.

The ramifications of this ban are significant; educators anticipate a substantial void in resources that serve as connections between Afghan universities and global academic standards. The Taliban's Ministry of Education has yet to comment on the consequences of this directive.