Sheikh Faqirullah Faiq, an Islamic scholar, has challenged the decision of the Islamic Emirate to ban girls above grade sixth from going to school.  

 Sheikh Faiq is the second Islamic scholar in Afghanistan to criticize the closing of schools for female students in grades 7-12.  

On March 23, the female students above grade six were told not to go to school until the next decision is announced by the Islamic Emirate.  

Sheikh Faiq, an instructor at Nauman Ibn-e-Sabit, in a 15 minute audio message, said that Islam allows for the education of girls in modern studies in addition to religious lessons.  

“Who has given this Fatwa (order), why?—and what is the reason for it? They give me one reason for the closing of the female schools,” he said.  

Sheikh Faiq called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for female students over grade six.  

Sheikh Faiq also said that if his statement is not considered, he will go with other Islamic religious leaders to the supreme leader of the Islamic Emirate, Mawlawi Hebatullah Akhundzada.  

“The pagans laugh at us. The pagans call us wild because we don’t focus on main issues and divert our attention to unimportant issues,” he said.  

The banning of female students from school has faced national and international reactions.  

Earlier this week, Maullana Khwaja Jalilullah Mawlawizada, an Islamic scholar, said that based on Islamic principles girls are allowed to have access to education.  

“What is important to be mentioned is that the education of women should be under an Islamic format which is respecting Hijab and the segregation of male and females,” he said in a letter.