Afghanistan faces crisis under five years of Taliban rule

Five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan have resulted in profound societal transformations and a severe humanitarian crisis. The country faces economic collapse, with approximately 90% of the population living below the poverty line and over 3.5 million children suffering from malnutrition.

The education sector has been specifically targeted, most notably through the complete exclusion of women from higher education. Following a December 2022 decree, women are barred from all universities, and existing female degrees are no longer certified. This policy has denied education to millions of Afghans, including those at the secondary level. Additionally, the academic environment has shifted as specialist professors are often replaced by religious figures, and materials authored by women have been purged from curricula.

Social life is strictly governed by a draconian interpretation of sharia law. Restrictions include bans on music, movies, and certain games, alongside mandates for men regarding appearance and prayer attendance. For women, hundreds of edicts restrict their ability to work, travel without a male relative, or speak in public, contributing to significant psychological trauma across the population.