Taliban Imposes Strict Ban on Women’s Literature, Subjects in Afghan Universities
The Taliban has issued a directive banning books written by women from being used in universities across Afghanistan.
This move is part of a broader effort to restrict education and impose strict controls on the curriculum.
The order, which was issued in late August 2025, also prohibits the teaching of 18 subjects deemed to be in conflict with Sharia law and Taliban policies.
The banned subjects include human rights, gender studies, and women’s sociology, effectively eliminating some of the last remaining academic spaces where women’s lives and issues could be discussed.
Surprisingly, even science-related titles like Safety in the Chemical Laboratory have been struck off, with officials claiming they are “anti-Taliban.”
In addition to the ban on women’s literature and certain subjects, the Taliban has also prohibited 310 books authored by Iranian writers or publishers, citing concerns about “Iranian influence” in Afghan classrooms.
This latest move is part of a larger pattern of restrictions on education and women’s rights in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban’s return to power four years ago, girls have been barred from studying beyond grade six, and midwifery courses were shut down in 2024.
The consequences of these restrictions were starkly illustrated in recent weeks, when women trapped under debris during an earthquake were left without help because men unrelated to them were forbidden to touch them.
Afghanistan’s population of approximately 43 million people, nearly half of whom are women, is severely impacted by these policies. Around 2.5 million girls aged 12 and above, who are barred from attending secondary school and university, remain out of classrooms.
The Taliban’s restrictions on education and women’s rights have far-reaching consequences for the country and its people. The ban on women’s literature and certain subjects in universities is a significant step backward for Afghanistan’s education system and women’s rights.
