Taliban supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has reportedly declared that women should not only be excluded from modern education but also barred from attending religious schools, a stance that has stirred frustration and quiet dissent within the group’s leadership, according to sources who spoke to Afghanistan International.
Two Taliban ministers confirmed that Akhundzada made the controversial remarks during a cabinet meeting held two weeks ago. He reportedly argued that there is “no religious justification” for women to receive religious education and referenced the era of Islam’s third caliph, when women were prohibited from attending mosques, to support his position.
Another senior official present at the meeting corroborated the comments and noted that although many cabinet members were disheartened by Akhundzada’s decree, no one dared to challenge him. “To this day, no minister has had the courage to question or counter the Sheikh’s opinion,” a source based in Kandahar told Afghanistan International.
The decision has reportedly deepened internal divisions, with two ministers expressing disappointment. They said there had been hope that girls’ schools might reopen this year, but the supreme leader’s latest statement extinguished those expectations.
“This goes against the Quran and the teachings of the Prophet,” one minister said. “Religious education is obligatory for all Muslims, men and women alike.”
One Taliban official warned that such restrictive policies could push the country back into chaos. “If this continues, Afghanistan could once again descend into conflict and fragmentation. The responsibility for that will fall squarely on Hibatullah’s shoulders,” the official cautioned.
Under Akhundzada’s leadership, the Taliban have already barred girls from secondary education, universities, and private learning centres. Analysts believe extending the ban to religious education will not only intensify internal rifts but also provoke a new wave of condemnation from the international community.
