Afghanistan: Hopes fade as universities reopen without women

Afghan universities have begun reopening after a winter break, but the new term is another painful reminder to young women of how their world is shrinking. The higher education ministry announced late last year that female students would be barred from returning to class, reversing policies that had allowed them to continue their studies after the Taliban government took power in Kabul in 2021.

"Now I'm a No-one," said a fourth-year computer science student. "My plan was to finish university, do my masters, and then my PHD. I wanted to work and serve my nation, my people, my country. I can't do that now."

Just months earlier, she and her friends had been talking about how to prepare for graduation. Now several young women who spoke with the BBC said they cried as they shared memories of happy hopeful times and watched their brothers and cousins resume studies without them.

Read more

Afghanistan professor on girls' education: 'Men must stand up for women'