Several 1997 sources report that female
teachers are prohibited to teach in schools and universities in
Kabul under Taliban rule (AFP 23 Mar. 1997; Reuters 16 Apr. 1997;
Rocky Mountain News 10 March 1997). The Rocky Mountain
News report states that the Taliban's strict implementation of
Islamic laws forbid women from going to work or school (10 March
1997). The same report adds that 60 per cent of Kabul University
teaching staff had been women (ibid.). The Reuters report states
that anyone disobeying the Taliban authority are subject to "harsh
punishment" (16 Apr. 1997). Please consult the attached articles
for additional information on the treatment of teachers in
Kabul.
Information on the treatment of male
teachers could not be found among the sources consulted by the
DIRB.
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does
not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular
claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of
additional sources consulted in researching this Information
Request.
References
Agence France Presse (AFP). 23 March
1997. "Kabul Schools Open After Winter Recess, for Boys Only."
(NEXIS)
Rocky Mountain News [Denver,
Col.]. Abdullah Zaheeruddin. "Kabul University Opens Without Women;
Once Proud School Feels Pain of Taliban's Strict Brand of Islam
that Minimizes Female Roles." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 16 April 1996. BC Cycle. "U.N.
Criticizes Taleban Treatment of Afghan Women." (NEXIS)
Attachments
Agence France Presse (AFP). 23 March
1997. "Kabul Schools Open After Winter Recess, for Boys Only."
(NEXIS)
Rocky Mountain News [Denver,
Col.]. Abdullah Zaheeruddin. "Kabul University Opens Without Women
Once; Proud School Feels Pain of Taliban's Strict Brand of Islam
that Minimizes Female Roles." (NEXIS)
Reuters. 16 April 1996. BC Cycle. "U.N.
Criticizes Taleban Treatment of Afghan Women." (NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
DIRB Country File. 1997.
DIRB Amnesty File. 1997.
DIRB's Index Media Review. 1997.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service
(FBIS) Daily Reports.
The Herald [Karachi].
On-line search of news articles on the
World Wide Web.