Disappearing behind his large office as president of the Faculty of Economics of Mazar-e Charif (northern Afghanistan), a post landed after thirty-six years of career, Abdul Jalil Naikjo does not want to lose this Grail because of an inappropriate remark. Having noted that he was questioned on Saturday, September 11, in the presence of a “special envoy” from the Taliban information ministry, he weighs his every word. “I am happy, and the students too, for the change of government, he just needs to tell us how to respect Sharia law and everything will be fine. Before, there was insecurity and crime, now society is peaceful. The only concern, it is only economic, we have been without pay for two months », he blurted out, seized with nervous tics, visibly under tension.
On Sunday, his wish was partially granted. The Taliban government’s higher education minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani has announced that Afghan women who wish will be allowed to study at the university. He added, however, that in accordance with Sharia law, the mix of courses will be ended and that students will be educated, as far as possible, by female teachers. Finally, young women will have to wear the full veil, either the niqab, which only lets the eyes see, or the burqa, which bars the face with a fabric grid. On the other hand, the minister explained that it would take several months before the programs were modified in accordance with Islamic law.
The University of Mazar-e Charif will therefore remain closed for some time. Only certain program directors, such as Mr. Naikjo, and security guards will continue to come. Spread over three sites, it normally concentrates most of the students on the campus located on the outskirts of the city, which can accommodate 10,000 of the 18,000 students in total and a good part of the 700 employees, administrators and teachers. The entrance gate is, for the time being, in the custody of two armed Taliban who search visitors, while this practice has disappeared in the country.
“If the private universities of Mazar have already resumed their courses, it is because they only live on funds paid by students and patrons, they were going to go bankrupt”, explains Ahmad Wazir Safi, a 30-year-old Taliban, former professor of English and computer science, in charge of higher education for the six provinces of northern Afghanistan. ” Corn, he wants to clarify, they have implemented protocols that respect Sharia law. ” Separations have been installed in the classrooms. “We will soon reopen the government university, he assures. We must first find a way to secure the journey of students between their home and the university, we are thinking of buses. “
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