Afghan women who are receiving higher education in Oman or order to return to their country
Over 80 Afghan women who were receiving higher education in Oman after widely cut in foreign aid programs by US President Donald Trump, have now been ordered to return to Afghanistan. The scholarship of these women was funded by the US agency USAID, which is now on the verge of closure. Trump and his colleague Elon Musk have decided to abolish more than 90 percent of foreign aid contracts.
These scholarships funded by USAID were suddenly abolished as soon as they took over as US President in January, when Trump banned foreign aid. According to the report, a student told the media, “It was going to break the heart. Everyone was surprised and crying. We were told that we will be sent back within two weeks.” About four years ago, the Taliban, who occupied the power of Afghanistan, has imposed strict restrictions on women, including a ban on studies in universities.
Appeal to intervention from international community
Trump’s foreign aid funding freeze is facing many legal challenges in the US and the world. Many aid programs are already feeling its effects. These include programs which are important for dealing with health systems, nutrition programs and starvation in weak countries.
These Afghan women studying in Oman said that they are preparing to return to their homeland, but have appealed to the international community for immediate intervention. A student said, “We need immediate security, financial assistance and rehabilitation in a safe country, so that we can continue our education.”
Scholarship and Taliban restrictions
These Afghan women were studying undergraduate and postgraduate under the Women’s Scholarship Emphasis (WSE) program started in 2018 under USAID in Oman. The purpose of this program was to provide education to Afghan women in subjects like science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem).
These women applied for these scholarships in 2021 before the Taliban occupation in Afghanistan. Subsequently, by December 2022, many women were studying in Afghan universities, but the Taliban again banned women’s higher education. These women reported that she had fled to Pakistan last September, when USAID gave her a visa to study in Oman.
Future worry for women
A student said, “It is as if everything has been taken away from me. It was the worst moment. I am still under extreme stress.” Other students expressed concern that if they are sent back to Afghanistan, they could have serious consequences. We will not be able to study and our families can force us to marry. Many women can withstand personal risk due to their past and activism.
Afghan women consider themselves “dead bodies” in the country, because the rigorous regime of the Taliban has disturbed their lives. The Taliban defended the restrictions on women’s education, saying that all these decisions are in line with the Islamic Sharia law under the orders of their supreme leader.
Taliban adamant on its harsh policies
Despite a serious crisis on women’s rights in Afghanistan, the Taliban has made efforts to resolve the issue, but they are adamant on their harsh policies. A student said, “There has been gender discrimination for women in Afghanistan, where they are being denied basic rights, including education.”
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