In Another Blow to Women's Rights, Taliban Bars Girls From University Entrance Exams

The Taliban* has revealed another decision regarding Afghan women: the Ministry of Higher Education announced that girls will no longer be able to take part in private university entrance exams - which are scheduled for February.

The development was confirmed by Ziaullah Hashmi, a spokesperson for the Taliban Higher Education Ministry, who said that the authorities have sent a letter to private institutions, informing them that "registration of female students is not allowed until further notice."

The Afghan government's tightening of the noose around women's rights comes days after the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) urged the group, including supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, to revoke the ban.

The OIC "emphasized that education is a fundamental human right which all individuals must enjoy on the basis of equal opportunity and in a non-discriminatory manner, and not be deprived of," it said in a statement earlier this month. The organization even went on to say that preventing women from gaining access to employment and education was contradictory to what is prescribed in Islamic scriptures.

Among other setbacks to women and girls of the war-ravaged nation was their exclusion from secondary education. Women are also barred from visiting parks, working out in gyms, and taking public baths.

Additionally, they were banned from working in NGOs last month, excluding them from almost all forms of employment after the Taliban previously ordered that women would not be permitted in government offices.

Other restrictions for women and girls are that they are required to be accompanied by a male guardian, such as their husband, father, or brother, and obliged to wear the head-to-toe burqa when going out.