In a rare move, a high-ranking Taliban official has spoken out against the group’s controversial education bans on Afghan women and girls. Sher Abbas Stanikzai, the political deputy at the Foreign Ministry, urged the Taliban’s leadership to reverse these restrictions, calling them unjust and contrary to Islamic teachings.

Speaking at a religious school event in Khost province, Stanikzai made a bold statement: “There is no reason to deny education to women and girls now, just as there was no justification for it in the past.” His remarks come as the Taliban continues to enforce policies barring girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade. Reports also suggest that women’s access to medical training has been halted, though authorities have yet to confirm this.

Stanikzai’s appeal was shared in a video on social media, where he emphasized the injustice of denying education to half of Afghanistan’s population. “We are depriving 20 million people of their rights,” he said. “This is not Islamic law but a personal choice.”

This isn’t the first time Stanikzai has advocated for women’s education. In 2022, he made similar comments following the closure of girls’ schools and the introduction of a university ban. However, his latest statement marks a direct call for policy change, addressing Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada.

Analysts note that Stanikzai’s remarks are significant, as they publicly challenge the legitimacy of the current approach. Meanwhile, international figures like Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai have also pressed Muslim leaders to confront the Taliban on this issue.

The education bans remain a key obstacle to global recognition of the Taliban government. Despite this, countries like Russia and India have been quietly building ties with Afghan authorities, signaling a complex geopolitical landscape.

The question remains: Will the Taliban listen to internal voices urging change? For now, the future of Afghan women and girls hangs in the balance.