OREANDA-NEWS. Former Afghan President Hamid Karzai addressed Afghan women and congratulated them on Teachers Day, wishing them to return to work as soon as possible. The quote is from TOLO News.

The congratulations came against the backdrop of a ban that prevents women in Afghanistan from teaching or studying. According to representatives of the Taliban (the movement is recognized as terrorist and prohibited in the Russian Federation), this will not happen until schools and universities provide a "real Islamic environment."

The ban is based on the fact that girls cannot study with men. The Taliban assure that the new rule will not be in effect permanently, and they are already working to create a "safe Islamic environment". Officially, the new Afghan authorities did not forbid girls to study, but urged them to “be safe” and not go to school for now.

According to UN human rights defenders, the situation with the rights of Afghan women is currently extremely difficult. They are beaten in the streets, banned from going to schools and abducted. The Taliban have also banned women from leaving their homes since August 25, as it is allegedly dangerous to life, health and freedom.

Earlier, Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid told German newspaper Spiegel that girls will be allowed to attend school only when a safe environment is created for them.

Zabiullah Mujahid noted that the Taliban are not opposed to resuming the girls' education, but first they need to provide them with transport in which they will be safe and an environment where the girls will not be in any danger.