Taliban attacks on schoolgirls and other similar security incidents have disrupted education in several southern provinces of Afghanistan. Reportedly, in Ghazni Province alone, 119 schools, most of which are girls schools have been closed following threats by Taliban insurgents. Many believe much more must be done to prevent attacks against schoolchildren.
On May 1, 2012, Shahgul Razaee, a Member of the Afghan National Assembly told reporters that 119 schools have been closed in Ghazni Province. “Approximately, 39 schools in the provincial capital, 42 schools in Andar District and 38 schools in the Dah-e-Yak District have been recently closed,” she said.
A week before, a report published by The Washington Post claimed that several girls schools in the southern provinces of Afghanistan were threatened by the Taliban to close down. In the report, titled “In Afghanistan, underground girls school defies Taliban edict, threats”, The Washington Post writes: “Some individuals were assisting in education by establishing underground girls’ schools in some insecure areas, but these schools are threatened by the Taliban to close.”
It is not the first time that the Taliban have threatened to target girls schools. But in the most recent attacks against schoolgirls, Taliban are employing different means such as poisoning and acid attacks, even in relatively secure provinces.
Nearly 150 schoolgirls were poisoned in the Restage District of
Takhar Province.
The most recent incident of violence against schoolgirls happened on April 17 in the Restage District of Takhar Province in which nearly 150 schoolgirls were poisoned. The girls are now recovering after treatment.
In November 2008, the Taliban attacked the Nazoana Girls School in Kandahar Province and wounded several girls with acid. In May 2009, 120 students were poisoned in northern Kapisa Province. Sixty students were similarly poisoned in Ghazni in July 2011. On March 31 of this year, police found two dead bodies of students who were attacked by acid in Andar District of Ghazni Province.
Analysts assert that though local military officials always pledge to identify and bring the perpetrators of such attacks to justice, no meaningful action has been taken. Perpetrators have remained unidentified and the government has taken no constructive measures to prosecute them.
“The police have not identified any perpetrator of such cases so far,” said Gulagha Ahmadi, Media Advisor at the Ministry of Education.
According to Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, spokesperson for Pamir Police Zone, the police have not yet received any directives from the responsible commission to investigate the case of the schoolgirls poisoned in Takhar Province.
“Perpetrators should not be released; they should be punished to avoid doing such actions again,” said Noorulhaq Uloomi, a military analyst. “One of the solutions to discover and prevent such incidents is to build strong intelligence and police forces.”
According to Lal Mohammad Ahmadzai, spokesperson for Pamir Police Zone, the police have not yet received any directives from the responsible commission to investigate the case of the schoolgirls poisoned in Takhar Province.
The Women’s Affairs, Civil Society and Human Rights Commission of the Wolesi Jirga released a statement to strongly condemn the schoolgirls’ poisoning in Takhar Province and insist that the relevant security officials identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice. But, neither the government nor civil society organizations have taken any notable actions so far.
Although Afghan civil society organizations have often reacted against civilian casualties and cases of violence against women and children over the past ten years, analysts believe that the government and civil society have done too little to condemn attacks against schoolgirls.
Analysts point out that civil society organizations have often adopted constructive measures in decreasing violence, particularly violence against women and children. These groups should employ similar measures to prevent or at least decrease such cases of violence against students through civic activities.
“We released our statement over the acid attack on schoolgirls in Kandahar and asked the president to adopt strict action to arrest the perpetrators and ensure the security of schoolgirls,” said Wazir Ahmad Khurami, Deputy Head of the Civil Society and Human Rights Network. “Unfortunately, the government has adopted no practical action over the past few years.”
Regarding the recent poisoning in Takhar Province, Khurami said: “No practical action is yet taken in this regard, but we are in touch with people, civil society, and the international community to force the government to ensure the security of students.”
Aziz Rafaee, Director for Afghan Civil Society Forum, explains that attacks against students are a way for Afghanistan’s enemies to create fear among families and to prevent their children from pursuing an education.
“Civil society does nothing except to inform people,” he said. “But as the awareness of people increases, the enemies’ conspiracies will be neutralized.”
Bari Salam, a journalist and civil society activist believes that civil society has maintained a presence in deterring such incidences and educating the public. Civil society, he explains, mobilizes people to have a strong position against attacking schoolchildren and forces the government to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“Civil Society encourages people and educational institutions to be patient about such cases and not give up hope,” he said.
