Afghan fathers fight secretly for daughters' education amid Taliban ban

In Afghanistan, the only country in the world to ban secondary education for girls, a small group of fathers are waging a desperate, clandestine battle to ensure their daughters can still learn. These men, risking imprisonment, grapple with the Taliban's restrictive policies, which have plunged their families into despair.

Five fathers, speaking anonymously to AFP, shared their anguish and determination. "As an Afghan, a man, and a father, I want to say that our daughters should be able to continue their education and, above all, choose what they want to become in the future. It is their right," one father, identified as Nassir, stated. He described sleepless nights spent devising solutions and hidden tears shed over their teenage daughters' lost futures.

These fathers navigate a perilous landscape, seeking ways to circumvent the Taliban's decree. Some explore options for clandestine schools, while others contemplate the painful prospect of exile to provide their daughters with the education denied to them at home. Their quiet resistance highlights the profound impact of the Taliban's policies on Afghan families and the lengths to which parents will go to secure a future for their children.

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As an Afghan, a man, and a father, I want to say that our daughters should be able to continue their education and, above all, choose what they want to become in the future. It is their right.