The acting Minister of Virtue and Vice, Shaikh Mohammad Khaled Hanafi, said Tuesday that women and girls’ education is permitted by Islam, and the Islamic Emirate is attempting to provide learning opportunities for girls.

Speaking at a ceremony held to introduce the head of the Virtue and Vice Department in Mazar-e-Sharif, Hanafi stressed that women are allowed to be educated even up to the PhD level.

“Islam is not against education, but it is against education without hijab. The Islamic Emirate is making a framework in which boys and girls can continue their education in separate places,” said Shaikh Mohammad Khaled Hanafi.

He further added: “the aim of the Ministry of Virtue and Vice is not to humiliate honorable people for reasons such as shaving, this is not our aim.”

Referring to mistreatment against women in the former government, Mr. Hanafi said the women are facing harassment while working in various administrations of the former government.

The participants of the ceremony criticized the United States’ recent actions, saying the US is trying to put the Islamic Emirate into a challenging situation by imposing economic sanctions.

Acting Minister of Virtue and Vice Shaikh Mohammad Khaled Hanafi once again stressed that learning opportunities will be provided for women and girls in the context where gender segregation is taken into consideration.

Mawlave Sardar Mohammad Haidari has been introduced as head of the Virtue and Vice Department in Balkh province.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Emirate Chief of Staff Qari Fasihuddin said the government is trying to form a united, committed, powerful army to defend Afghanistan.

He called on the Islamic Emirate forces to be ready to face any kind of attacks by the enemies of Islam.