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Church News

Christian charity says it 'is a travesty' that girls are being denied the right to an education

by Alex Collett

A Christian charity has said it is a 'travesty' that the Taliban have reversed a decision to allow girls in Afghanistan to return back to their high schools.

Christian Aid have said the girls are heartbroken over the decision. 

Secondary schools were set to open nationwide after months of restrictions since the Taliban seized power in August.

But the education ministry abruptly announced the girls' schools would stay shut, causing confusion.

Ramani Leathard, head of region, Asia at Christian Aid told Premier it has been an emotional time.

"This is a huge setback, obviously to the development of the country and in fact, it is a globally regressive measure.

"As an Asian woman, myself, who has had the privilege of a very sound education, I feel this is a travesty and an affront to all girls and women

"One of my colleagues yesterday in Afghanistan, said he saw girls crying in the street, as he made his way to work.

"A female colleague sent me this rather heart rending message, which says, when I see my children and grandchildren, living life with no joy, I feel pain. 

"We are human, and we deserve to be afforded our rights. 

"But currently, this is a dream."

Ramani spoke about how future generations with suffer, because she believes no one will take responsibility for the Afghan people, especially female children and women, who are very vulnerable right now.

She also has encouraged people to pray for them saying, 'our prayer is for a kingdom in which justice is established, for all justice for the people of Afghanistan, who continue to suffer, as we hear this news that girls are being denied a basic right to education.'

Ramani also expressed that Afghanistan should not become a forgotten crisis, she said: "While global humanitarian needs are huge and vast, the people of Afghanistan are suffering terribly.

"The Taliban's announcement means a loss of over 30 years of building African institutions, and giving women and girls access to rights."

She expressed that the measure is in fact denying 50 per cent of Afghan society of their rights, and the fundamental rights of girls to education. 

Christian Aid has been at the forefront of working to empower women and they don't want to see all of that being eroded. 

They are working in every which way to ensure women can truly live up to being true citizens of Afghanistan.

 

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