Saudi Arabia and Qatar on Wednesday, December 21 urged the Taliban to reverse its ban on girls receiving a university education in Afghanistan.
In a Wednesday statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said it expresses “surprise” and “regret” at the Taliban-led government’s decision.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s astonishment and regret at the decision of the Afghan caretaker government to deny Afghan girls the right to university education, and calls on it to reverse this decision,” the ministry said.
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It added that the Taliban’s move was “astonishing in all Islamic countries and is contrary to giving Afghan women their full legitimate rights, foremost of which is the right to education, which contributes to supporting security, stability, development and prosperity in Afghanistan.”
https://twitter.com/KSAmofaEN/status/1605592817555963907?s=20&t=L71Xa4P_wrlH8I-BD86tYg
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Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a similar statement, saying the country “expresses concern and disappointment with the Afghan caretaker government’s decision.”
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stresses that these negative practices will have a significant impact on human rights, development and the economy,” the ministry said in a statement.
“As a Muslim country in which women enjoy all their rights, especially education, the State of Qatar calls on the Afghan caretaker government to review its decision in line with the teachings of the Islamic religion concerning women’s rights,” it added.
Read the statement below.
Statement | Qatar Expresses Deep Concern, Disappointment over Decision to Suspend Study of Girls, Women in Afghanistan's Universities#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/pE65ghWLbu
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) December 21, 2022
