The UN Rapporteur for Afghanistan Human Rights, Richard Bennett said that “specific reasons were not given" for the closure of girls’ schools in Afghanistan.

“The reason... they said there technical reasons. Specific reasons were not given and I was not told that they would remain closed. I was told and I repeat this that a committee will be… is working on it and will be reporting. I pressed them for when that report would be made and when.. schools will reopened,” Bennet told TOLOnews’ Hamid Bahraam in an interview.

Many gatherings of the Islamic scholars and human rights watchdogs called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen schools for female students above grade six.

Recently a gathering in the western province of Badghis called for the reopening of schools for female students in grade 6-12.

Following a request from religious scholars in Badghis to reopen girls' schools above sixth grade, former president Hamid Karzai on Twitter called on the Islamic Emirate to respect the voice of the Afghan people and religious scholars and to reopen girls' schools.

The girls’ schools beyond grade six have been closed for more than 270 days.

“We are concerned that our rights have been taken from us. This basic right is ensured in religion and in government,” said Sehat, a female student.

The UN Rapporteur earlier concluded an 11-day visit to Afghanistan. Bennet told TOLOnews that Afghan women must play a full role in society based on the international human rights standard.

“It is a tragedy that girls are missing almost one year of school at secondary level. This is an important generation. A generation that needs to be… so they can be the future of Afghanistan and women must play a full role in Afghan society, according to international human rights standards,” he said.