When Afghan schools and universities open after a winter break, girls and women are not welcome.

It is one of several decisions by the Taliban regime that is now criticized in a new report.

- If Afghan girls and women were educated, they would never tolerate a government that exploits Islam and the Koran, says journalism student Waheeda Durrani to the AFP news agency.

It is the think tank International Crisis Group (ICG) that states in a new report that the example of schooling is just one of several decisions that undermine women's rights in Afghanistan.

Criticism is now growing among women in the country, where more and more dare to speak openly about their criticism of the Taliban regime.

- This is only about gender discrimination against girls, as in Islam it is permitted for us to study higher education.

Nobody should stop us from learning, says Rahela, who is 22 years old and comes from the province of Ghor, to the AFP news agency.

The Taliban: Necessary

The Taliban claim, writes TT, that the school ban is necessary because women have not followed the rules that have been introduced regarding, among other things, male company to and from school and a strict dress code.

The decision is followed by the fact that the country's universities have previously separated the classes, introduced separate entrances for men and women and that female students must be taught by female teachers or older men, TT further reports.

Calls for boycott

In an open letter, a group of women has appealed to male students and teachers to boycott schools and universities.

- If Afghan girls and women were educated, they would never tolerate a government that exploits Islam and the Koran, journalist student Waheeda Durrani told AFP.

- With education, they would demand their rights.

That is what the government is afraid of, she continues.

The International Crisis Group (ICG) writes, among other things, in a conclusion that "Aid workers should cease (with their efforts) for the time being and change operations when they can no longer maintain humanitarian principles".