Is this really reassuring news?

The acting minister of higher education of the Taliban government assured Sunday that Afghan women could study at university, in single-sex classes.

But the new regime has also shown its intention to offer an “Islamic and reasonable” education program, without knowing exactly what this means.

Since taking power in mid-August, the Taliban have tried to display an image of openness and moderation, in the face of fears of a return of the same type of fundamentalist and brutal regime as when they were in power between 1996. and 2001. The education of girls and women was then prohibited.

"In accordance with our Islamic values"

Afghans "will be able to continue their higher education in accordance with Sharia (Islamic law) in safety, without women and men being mixed", announced the acting minister, Abdul Baqi Hazzani, during a meeting with elders, called Loya Jirga.

The Taliban want to create "an Islamic and reasonable curriculum, in accordance with our Islamic, national and historical values, and, on the other hand, to be able to compete with other countries," he said.

Girls and boys will also be separated at primary and secondary levels, which is already widespread across the country, still very conservative.

Gap between promises and actions

No women were present at the meeting which took place in Kabul in the presence of other Taliban officials.

"The Taliban Ministry of Higher Education has only consulted male teachers and students about resuming classes at the university," lamented on Twitter a lecturer employed by a university in the capital.

According to her, this shows "the systematic prevention of the participation of women in decision-making" and "a gap between the promises of the Taliban and their actions".

Prohibited entertainment, stoning

Over the past 20 years, more and more women have entered university, in mixed courses, but with courses taught only by men.

In the late 1990s, the Taliban excluded women from the public sphere, entertainment like kite flying or movies were banned, and brutal punishments were imposed - like stoning for those accused of adultery. .

The Taliban have yet to announce their new government, saying they are waiting for the end of the foreign troop withdrawal to do so.

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