[Today’s Prayer] Afghan Taliban Regime Bans Books Written by Women from Universities

The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has banned the teaching of any book authored by women in universities.

According to the BBC (UK) and The New York Times (US) on the 20th (local time), Afghanistan’s Ministry of Higher Education sent an official letter to all domestic universities late last month, listing 679 banned books and ordering that they be removed.

The letter stated that these books were contrary to sharia (Islamic law). Among the banned books were about 140 authored by women, including “Chemical Laboratory Safety.”

A member of the Ministry of Higher Education’s review committee told the BBC: “No book written by a woman is permitted to be taught.” This committee is composed of Islamic religious scholars and others.

The Taliban authorities also ordered universities to abolish 18 subjects—including human rights, democracy, and women’s studies—on the grounds that they contradict sharia, and announced that some 200 other subjects are under review.

Since retaking Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban has effectively banned women from secondary school and higher education, barred them from employment, and prohibited them from going out without a male guardian, among other restrictions on women’s rights.

Last year, they passed a law forbidding women from exposing not only their faces but even their voices outside the home. At the end of the year, they also shut down one of the last few remaining higher education programs available to women—midwifery training.

(omitted)

Source: Yonhap News

“For he will deliver the needy whory out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on th ce weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.” (Psalm 72:13–14)

Heavenly Father, we hear the news that the Taliban regime in Afghanistan has banned all books written by women from being taught in universities and has ordered the abolition of subjects such as human rights, democracy, and women’s studies.

We lift up to You the Afghan women whose rights are being trampled under the excuse of violating Islamic law. Have mercy on the Afghan women who cannot raise even the faintest voice simply because they are women. Lord, You alone know the pain of Afghan women who have suffered and been wounded even more deeply since the Taliban’s takeover. Visit their poor and afflicted hearts with Your love and Word, and comfort them in their suffering.

We believe that true freedom is found only in the name of Jesus Christ. May Afghan women, who have been denied freedom and joy, come to know the gospel, receive Your name, and experience the freedom and new life that fills them with joy through love and grace they have never known before.

Lord, awaken the Afghan church and the global church to pray even more fervently for this. Let us cry out with tears for broken human rights and for souls perishing without hearing the gospel, striving all the more to proclaim the good news. Through the gospel, may Afghan women and countless souls receive salvation and live with the hope of heaven.

May the Afghan nation rise up through the gospel, drying the tears of weeping souls among all peoples in the name of Jesus, and become a people that proclaims the Kingdom of God!