Kabul, Sept. 19: The Taliban government has removed books authored by women from Afghanistan’s university curriculum, in a move that also bans the teaching of human rights and sexual harassment, BBC reported. Around 140 books by women were among 680 flagged as “of concern” for being “anti-Sharia and Taliban policies.”

Universities have also been told to stop teaching 18 subjects, six of which focus specifically on women, including Gender and Development, The Role of Women in Communication, and Women’s Sociology.

Ziaur Rahman Aryubi, deputy academic director of the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education, said the decisions were made by a panel of “religious scholars and experts,” reported BBC.

A member of the committee reviewing the books confirmed to BBC Afghanthat “all books authored by women are not allowed to be taught.” 

Former deputy justice minister Zakia Adeli, whose works are among the banned titles, said the move was predictable given the Taliban’s “misogynistic mindset and policies,” as per BBC. She added, “When women themselves are not allowed to study, their views, ideas and writings are also suppressed.”

The ban also affects books by Iranian authors or publishers, with one review panel member saying it aims to “prevent the infiltration of Iranian content” into Afghan universities. 

Lecturers have warned that removing these texts risks creating “a substantial void in higher education,” as Iranian works are a key link to global academic knowledge. Professors at Kabul University said they are now forced to prepare textbook chapters themselves.-Agencies