Afghan Girls Protest Education Ban with Symbolic Classes Behind Closed School Gates
In the fifth year of girls’ exclusion from education in Afghanistan, members of the Golden Needle Literary Association organized symbolic classes behind the closed gates of schools and universities to protest ongoing restrictions.
The association described the initiative as a way to “awaken the collective conscience” and break the silence surrounding the denial of education for Afghan girls. They emphasized that the move serves as “a voice against silence and a serious reminder that girls in this country continue to be deprived of their fundamental right to education.”
The group called on all sectors of society—especially Afghan men—to stand with them and help transform awareness into a public demand. They envision a society where men and women participate equally in social life and where merit, not gender, determines opportunity.
Led by Dr. Homeira Qaderi, a writer and university professor, the Golden Needle Literary Association has been offering creative writing classes for Afghan girls and boys since September 2021.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, education for girls beyond sixth grade has been banned, leaving approximately 2.2 million girls without access to schooling, according to UNICEF.
