JURIST EXCLUSIVE – Law students and lawyers in Afghanistan are filing reports with JURIST on the situation there after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Here, a lawyer in Kabul offers his observations and perspective on recent developments in Taliban university policy. For privacy and security reasons we are withholding our correspondent’s name and institutional affiliation. The text has been only lightly edited to respect the author’s voice.

The Taliban cabinet convened a meeting yesterday in which they have emphasized that private higher education institutions shall be based on the Taliban’s principles. They have not provided further information on what and how these universities should comply with the Taliban principles, but previously the Ministry of Higher Education has set up a new set of policies for both public and private universities. Male and female segregation, different classes for boys and girls, and other restrictions are among those that the private universities should comply with.

It has to be mentioned that no public university is resumed since the Taliban came to power. Secondary and high schools are also closed in the country. Kunduz, Bamyan, and Takhar are the only provinces that have reported that all girls have restarted going to schools.