Latest News
Education Ministry reverses ban on schoolgirls over 12 singing in public
The Afghan Ministry of Education (MoE) has made a U-turn on the ban it imposed last week on schoolgirls over the age of 12 from singing in public.
On Wednesday, the MoE confirmed that schoolgirls over the age of 12 were with immediate effect banned from singing the national anthem or other group songs in public.
The decision immediately drew strong opposition from the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, social media users and others.
The rights watchdog said the ban was in violation of Afghan laws, the Constitution, and child rights.
But on Saturday, the MoE did a U-turn and said in a statement that the letter had been issued by the Kabul Education Department and “does not reflect the stance of the Ministry of Education.”
The statement noted that the issue was still under review and the ministry would oppose the department’s suggestion.
The MoE also stated that its leadership remained committed to supporting the right of all students, including girls, to participate in cultural, arts and sports events.
The controversial letter last week stated that the ban would apply to all government and private schools.
Women in particular slammed the decision, saying that sensitive decisions especially relating to gender should not be taken by educational institutions.
But the Ministry of Education said last week the decision was made following an order from the National Assembly and at the suggestion of families.
“According to the order of the Ministry of Education, all public and private schools should organize singing groups for female students so that their members are girls under 12 years old,” one official said.
Najiba Arian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, confirmed the ban at the time and said the decision was made following complaints by families due to the “heavy load of studies on the shoulders of the students in high school and middle school”.
The principals of schools were also warned that they will face legal action if they break the rules.
Latest News
Human traffickers should be sentenced to 1 to 3 years in prison: IEA leader
The Leader of the Islamic Emirate has issued a decree instructing the Ministry of Interior Affairs to prevent human trafficking and to arrest and refer culprits to military courts.
The decree containing six articles says that that military courts should sentence human traffickers to one year in prison for the first time, two years if repeated for the second time and three years if repeated for the third time.
The ministries of Hajj, information, telecommunications, borders, propagation of virtue, as well as religious scholars are asked to inform the public about the dangers and adverse consequences of travelling through smuggling routes.
The decree comes as the rate of migration has increased following the political change in Afghanistan in 2021.
Latest News
Eight Afghan migrants die as boat capsizes off Greek island
Eight Afghan migrants died after a speedboat carrying migrants capsized off Greece's eastern island of Rhodes on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
Greek authorities said that the capsizing was the result of the boat’s maneuvering to evade a patrol vessel.
A total of 18 migrants — 12 men, three women and three minors — all Afghan nationals, were rescued, Greece's coast guard said Saturday. The dead were also from Afghanistan, it said.
Some migrants remained hospitalized, with one in critical condition, authorities said.
Two Turkish citizens, ages 23 and 19, were arrested as the suspected traffickers. The boat sank after capsizing, the coast guard said.
The sinking off Rhodes was the second deadly incident involving migrants in the past week.
Seven migrants were killed and dozens were believed missing after a boat partially sank south of the island of Crete over the weekend — one of four rescue operations during which more than 200 migrants were rescued.
Latest News
Norwegian Chargé d’Affaires meets with IEA deputy foreign minister
Welcoming the diplomat’s visit to Kabul, Stanikzai underscored the importance of political relations between Afghanistan and Norway, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
The Norwegian Chargé d’Affaires for Afghanistan, Per Albert Ilsaas, on Saturday met with IEA’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Sher Muhammad Abbas Stanikzai, in Kabul.
Welcoming the diplomat’s visit to Kabul, Stanikzai underscored the importance of political relations between Afghanistan and Norway, the foreign ministry said in a statement.
In addition to focusing on bilateral political, humanitarian, and other pertinent issues, the two sides expressed hope that continued engagement would lead to constructive solutions to related issues.
This comes two weeks after the Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi expressed disappointment regarding the decision by the Norwegian government to downgrade diplomatic relations with Afghanistan.
Balkhi said in a post on X that such decisions should not be linked with internal affairs of other countries.
“Diplomatic engagement is most effective when it fosters mutual understanding and respect, even amidst differing viewpoints,” he stated.
“Access to consular services is a fundamental right of all nationals. We strongly urge all parties to prioritize this principle in the spirit of international cooperation,” he added.
-
Sport5 days ago
Zimbabwe’s opening ODI against Afghanistan abandoned
-
World4 days ago
North Korean troops suffer 100 deaths, struggling in drone warfare, South Korea says
-
Latest News2 days ago
Afghan men must stand with women to support viable future of country: US envoy
-
Latest News3 days ago
Two horror accidents on Kabul-Kandahar highway leave 52 dead
-
Sport3 days ago
Afghanistan crush Zimbabwe by 232 runs in second ODI
-
Regional5 days ago
Iran’s president to make rare visit to Egypt for D-8 summit
-
International Sports4 days ago
Lanka T10: Kandy Bolts in at 4th spot in playoffs after thrilling day
-
World4 days ago
NATO takes over coordination of military aid to Kyiv from US, source says