The head of the Islamic Emirate’s political office, Suhail Shaheen, said that the Islamic Emirate is not against the education of women and that the “picture is not as it is portrayed by our opponents.” 

Talking to FOX News, Shaheen said millions of girls are studying in primary schools all over Afghanistan.  

“We have never said we are against the education of women. It is a universal right for all. So, secondly, the picture is not as it is portrayed by our opponents. Right now, there are 450,000 students of private and public universities all over Afghanistan. And there are millions of girls studying in primary schools," he said.  

Female students above grade six have been deprived of school for more than one year.  

“When we talk about the rights of women in Afghanistan, the discussion is beyond half of the Afghan population,” said Farah Mustafavi, a human rights defender.  

“Undoubtedly, the return of girls back to school is the first wish but this is not the only wish of the people of Afghanistan of the Afghan government and international community,” said Mohsina Sabor, a human rights defender.  

The European Union’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, commented on the opening of girls' schools:

“Sometimes I wonder whether we talk too much about schools for girls as if it were the only human rights concern, and as if Afghans should be satisfied once the Taliban addressed that. But then I realise that until they do, other rights will also not be respected. It is Grade One,” Niklasson tweeted.  

This comes as the female students have once again called on the Islamic Emirate to reopen their schools.  

“A society without educated humans that includes men and women cannot improve and we have the right to improve and develop our society,” said Tamana, a student.  

“We call on the international community to put pressure on the Taliban to start the schools above grade six,” said Wizha, a student.  

The Islamic Emirate earlier said that the decision about the reopening of the girls’ schools above grade six will be finalized, but there has yet to be any visible progress in this regard.