The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) has recently announced that 92% of female journalists in the country have been forced to alter or censor their reports. In a report published on Monday, September 22, AMSO stated that 80% of journalists received no support over the past year. The organization further emphasized that half of the journalists in the country have lost hope of continuing their work in the coming year. According to the report, only 6.9% of female journalists are currently allowed to work in Afghanistan. AMSO also noted that 55% of journalists have been threatened, while another 15% have received threats through their media outlets. The report added that 55.4% of journalists have lost their jobs, 50.5% have been forced to censor their reports, 46% of female journalists were not allowed to interview men, and 23% said they were compelled to have a male guardian present while working. AMSO said that these statistics were gathered through a survey conducted among female journalists during July and August. It should be noted that since the takeover of Afghanistan by the interim government, a large number of media outlets have shut down, and thousands of journalists—especially women—have lost their jobs or been forced to leave the country due to security concerns. The interim government has gradually increased restrictions on the media and journalists, particularly female journalists. In some provinces, live broadcasting has been banned, leading to the closure of several local television stations.

Human Rights Watch has expressed concern over the continued ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan, calling the situation “cruel, harmful, and unlawful.” The organization stated that by closing the doors of schools to girls from the age of 12, the de facto authorities have effectively destroyed the dreams and opportunities of millions of children and pushed the country into a deeper cycle of poverty and inequality. Sahar Fetrat, a women’s rights researcher at Human Rights Watch, stressed that this ban has not only trapped girls but has also plunged Afghan society as a whole into crisis, eliminating the possibility of building a healthier and more just community. The article states: “Without education, girls are pushed into early marriage, deprived of job opportunities, and unable to shape their own futures. This ban silences the voices of Afghan girls, steals their hopes, and crushes their imagination and potential.” It further notes that this action has not only destroyed the dreams of millions of girls but has also entrenched Afghan society in a deeper cycle of inequality, poverty, and entrenched oppression. Sahar Fetrat also criticized the global community’s response, saying that the world has not done enough to protect Afghan girls’ education. The inability or unwillingness of governments to act sends the message that Afghan children do not matter or are somehow second-class. Human Rights Watch, referring to the global stance on the situation of Afghan women and girls—particularly in education—emphasized: “This silence in the face of such injustice only empowers oppressors and normalizes inequality.” In part of the article, Sahar Fetrat wrote that education is not a privilege but a right for everyone, including Afghan girls. These reactions come as Afghanistan marks the fourth year since the closure of girls’ schools. In August 2021, when the de facto authorities took power, they issued a decree banning education for girls beyond grade six.

The Ministry of Education of the caretaker government has recently announced that 51 lesson titles from several school subjects, ranging from grade one to grade twelve, have been removed. According to the ministry, these titles have been eliminated from Dari, Pashto, Social Studies, and English subjects, and their teaching in schools is now prohibited. In a letter obtained by the media, it is emphasized that these lessons were deemed contrary to “religious teachings, the policy of the Islamic Emirate, and educational standards.” The letter states that lessons on the national flag, Teacher’s Day, mother, women’s rights in society, human rights, humanitarianism, Red Flower Festival, the Bamiyan Buddhas, folk customs and songs, the caliphate of Imam Ali, and several other topics have been removed from textbooks. The ministry also added in the letter that it is reviewing scientific subjects in schools as well, and if any material is found to be against “religious teachings, the policy of the Islamic Emirate, and educational standards,” they will also be removed. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education of the caretaker government had previously announced several times that it would bring changes, remove, and replace certain lesson titles in primary school subjects. These 51 lesson titles are being removed at a time when the current government, since taking control of Afghanistan, has deprived women and girls of education. In its latest restriction, the government closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, even though Afghanistan’s health sector faces a shortage of personnel. This action by the current government has left millions of schoolgirls without access to education. In addition, women have also been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs, as well as even at United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

James Kariuki, Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the United Nations, stated that Afghanistan cannot succeed without the presence of women and girls, and the interim government must immediately lift the restrictions imposed on them. Mr. Kariuki made these remarks on Wednesday, September 25, at a UN Security Council meeting. He described reports that the current authorities are preventing female staff members from entering UN offices as concerning and called for their reversal. The UK representative to the UN also expressed condolences to the victims of the recent earthquakes and announced that his country has allocated more than four million dollars in new assistance for earthquake relief, bringing its total contribution to over five million dollars. Britain warned that the threat of drought and rising malnutrition in Afghanistan is serious, and more aid must be provided to ensure people—especially those in remote areas—do not face hunger during the winter. While James Kariuki emphasized the importance of upholding the rights of Afghan women and girls, the current government has, since taking power, deprived them of education and schooling. In its most recent restriction, it closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, despite Afghanistan’s healthcare sector facing a shortage of personnel. This move has deprived millions of girls from receiving an education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both domestic and international NGOs—even in UN offices in Afghanistan.

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund in Afghanistan, expressed concern over the growing mental health problems and early marriages among girls, saying that millions of girls are experiencing the devastating effects of restrictions. UNICEF reported today (Wednesday, September 17) quoting Russell, that by the end of this year, more than 2.2 million girls will remain deprived of schooling, while millions more continue to suffer from the harmful impacts of the current government’s restrictions. She further stressed that the return of Afghan refugees from Iran and Pakistan has added to the number of girls deprived of education. The UNICEF Executive Director added: “While millions of children around the world are returning to classrooms this month to begin a new school year, Afghan girls are denied this fundamental right. This is one of the defining injustices of our time.” She emphasized that girls in Afghanistan are deprived not only of education but also of social connection, personal growth, opportunities to shape their future, and the chance to fulfill their potential. Russell further warned: “This ban is a profound threat to the country’s stability and long-term progress. No nation can thrive when half of its population is left behind. If Afghanistan is to move forward, it needs the full participation of both women and men to drive a stronger workforce, boost economic growth, and meet the needs of a growing nation.” She added: “UNICEF urgently calls on the de facto authorities to lift this devastating ban and allow every girl in Afghanistan to attend school, from grade six and beyond.” It has been four years since Afghan girls have been barred from attending schools and universities by the current government. This policy has left millions of school-aged girls deprived of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in domestic and international NGOs as well as United Nations offices in Afghanistan.

Haji Zaid, spokesperson for the governor of Balkh, announced in the latest development that the use of fiber optic internet has been banned in the province by the order of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the caretaker government, in order to “prevent immorality.” In a message posted on his X account, Mr. Zaid wrote that from now on, fiber optic internet will no longer be used to “prevent immorality” and that they are seeking alternatives. At least two sources in Mazar-e-Sharif told Gohrshad Media that fiber optic internet has been cut off across Balkh province for several days. The source stressed that Afghan Telecom’s wired internet services as well as all other internet providers have been shut down, but mobile internet remains active. The source added that this disruption has affected online government services, banking operations, distance education, and normal business activities. Currently, Afghanistan is connected to high-bandwidth internet through fiber optic cables linking it to five neighboring countries. The former government had invested 150 million dollars in the fiber optic project. Consequences of Cutting Fiber Optic Internet With the shutdown of fiber optic internet, access to high-speed internet in Afghanistan becomes very limited. Households, government offices, and companies can no longer use fast internet, leaving only low-speed mobile internet available. This cutoff will also bring serious economic and social consequences. Foreign investment will decline, connections with global markets will be restricted, and people—especially school students and university students—will be deprived of access to online education and information. Fiber optic internet transmits data not through electricity but by using light beams inside glass cables. For this reason, its speed and stability are much higher than ordinary internet. Extremely high data transfer speed, greater stability compared to mobile internet, and high capacity for transmitting large volumes of information are key features of fiber optic internet.

The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the caretaker government has recently launched the process of administering religious exams for teachers and staff of schools. This ministry has instructed the Ministry of Education to test teachers and staff of the provincial education departments on the curriculum that has been taught. According to the letter from the Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice of the current government, the process of administering the exams began on September 9. Several teachers from Herat province told Goharshad media that for the past week the provincial education department has been conducting religious exams for teachers and school employees. They said that the Ministry of Education intends to use these exams to determine the religious proficiency of teachers and administrative staff of schools. One teacher stated that the exam is being taken from books and booklets that had previously been distributed to teachers and administrative employees. The Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, in this letter, has ordered that religious exams be administered twice a year for employees of government offices. The current government is also providing religious training to employees in the ministries. The caretaker government has established “Departments of Invitation and Guidance” within ministries and independent directorates, and this structure has also been added to secondary-level offices. The current government had previously conducted religious exams for ministry employees as well.

Richard Bennett, the UN Human Rights Council’s Special Rapporteur for Afghanistan, has recently stated that the de facto authorities must lift the restrictions imposed on female UN staff. On Friday, September 12, Bennett posted a message on his X account, calling for the removal of restrictions against female UN employees at the “national level.” He further emphasized: “Preventing women from accessing their workplaces or supporting vulnerable communities is yet another indication that the Taliban should not be normalized unless and until they change course.” He added: “I strongly echo UNAMA and call on the current authorities to lift the restrictions imposed on female staff at the national level.” The United Nations in Afghanistan has also issued a statement calling for the de facto authorities to lift the restrictions against female UN employees. The UN stated that on September 7 this year, government forces barred female UN employees and contractors from entering the organization’s offices in Kabul. UNAMA clarified that this restriction was later expanded to UN field offices across the country and enforced through written or verbal notices from the current authorities. The UN added that government forces have been stationed at the entrances of UN offices in Kabul, Herat, and Mazar-i-Sharif to prevent female staff from entering UN facilities. The organization said: “This is particularly concerning given the ongoing restrictions on the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan.” The United Nations in Afghanistan noted that these restrictions violate international laws regarding the immunities and privileges of UN staff and stressed that efforts are underway to have them lifted as soon as possible. Since taking power, the current authorities have also banned women and girls from education. In their latest restriction, they closed the doors of medical institutes to female students, despite the severe shortage of healthcare personnel in Afghanistan. This action has deprived millions of schoolgirls of education. In addition, women have been banned from going to gyms, restaurants, public baths, being examined by male doctors, traveling without a male guardian, and working in both domestic and international NGOs, as well as in UN offices in Afghanistan.

Tajudeen Oyewale, UNICEF Representative in Afghanistan, has stated that children are bearing the heaviest burden of the recent earthquake in eastern Afghanistan, and that girls in particular are facing unique risks. Speaking at a press conference in Geneva, Mr. Oyewale said: “Afghanistan is once again grappling with tragedy, and children are at the heart of a severe crisis.” He stressed that at least 1,172 children lost their lives in the earthquake — making up more than half of the total casualties. In addition, 45 children have been separated from their families and 271 have recently been orphaned. According to UN figures, the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan has claimed the lives of at least 2,164 people and injured more than 3,428 others. The UNICEF representative added that, as always in such disasters, children carry the heaviest burden. In total, more than half a million people have been affected, including 263,000 children who now face heightened risks. He said: “Girls, in particular, face unique risks. When homes are destroyed, girls are often the first to drop out of school in a country where their right to education already faces major obstacles. When families lose their livelihoods, girls are at greater risk of child marriage.” He emphasized that without action from the international community, the crisis will deepen existing inequalities and place a disproportionate burden on girls. The UNICEF representative also noted that their partners prioritize deploying female aid workers to ensure women and girls can safely and fairly access support. Previously, aid agencies reported a shortage of female aid workers and doctors in earthquake-affected areas. The de facto authorities have imposed severe restrictions on women’s movement and work. Aid organizations have called for these restrictions to be lifted. About two weeks ago, the deadly earthquake struck eastern Afghanistan, causing heavy casualties and destruction in Kunar province. OCHA reported that according to the latest figures, 2,164 people were killed and 3,428 others injured in the earthquake. According to the agency, the victims include 516 women, 476 men, 509 girls, and 663 boys. UN agencies have appealed for urgent funding to continue humanitarian assistance.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has recently announced that, according to the latest figures, 2,164 people — including 1,025 women — have died and 3,428 others have been injured as a result of the earthquake in eastern Afghanistan. In a published report, the agency stated that the fatalities include 516 women, 476 men, 509 girls, and 663 boys, while the injured include 1,875 women and 1,553 men. The report further noted that 5,950 houses have been destroyed and another 1,195 houses damaged by the earthquake. It added that assessments are still ongoing in four villages, and the death toll could rise. Previously, officials of the caretaker government had announced that in Kunar alone, 2,205 people were killed and 3,640 were injured by the earthquake. They emphasized that 6,782 houses were also destroyed. In their initial figures, government officials had also reported that 12 more people were killed in Nangarhar province and dozens of houses were destroyed in Nangarhar, Laghman, Nuristan, and Panjshir provinces. However, OCHA reported that between 31 August and 4 September, a total of 411 villages were affected by the earthquake. Among them, 71 villages were located in Chapa Dara, Suki, Dara Pech, Nurgal, and Watapur districts of Kunar; Dara Noor and Kuz Kunar districts of Nangarhar; and Alingar district of Laghman. The agency stressed that, overall, the earthquake has affected 7,147 families — including 46,137 individuals — in eastern Afghanistan. The report also stated that so far at least 60,872 earthquake-affected people have received food assistance and specialized nutrition support, while safe drinking water has been provided for about 30,000 people. Furthermore, 1,666 emergency shelter kits, 1,486 emergency shelter repair kits, standard non-food item kits, winter clothing packages, blankets, 2,460 different types of hygiene kits, 3,780 packages, and 460,000 Aqua tablets have been distributed to vulnerable families. It should be noted that a 6-magnitude earthquake struck eastern Afghan provinces last Sunday night, with Kunar suffering the highest number of casualties and damage.