CNN
—
A Kabul professor ripped up his diploma on Afghan television to protest the Taliban’s exclusion of women from higher education.
A man named Ismail Mashal is the founder of private Mashal University in Kabul and also a lecturer at Kabul University.
With tears in his eyes and a trembling voice, he tore up his diploma as he appeared on the country’s Toro News on Monday.
“From today, I don’t need these diplomas anymore because this country is not a place to get an education. If my sister and mother can’t study, I won’t get this education,” he said.
He added that the diplomas are for his multiple master’s and doctorate degrees and that they are original.
A clip of his appearance has since gone viral, including being retweeted by Shabnam Nasimi, a former policy adviser to the UK-based Afghan Resettlement and Refugee Minister.
“Amazing scene of Kabul professor destroying diplomas seen live on Afghan TV,” Nasimi tweeted along with the clip.
The Taliban announced on December 20 that they would suspend college education for all female students. This follows the government’s ban on girls from attending secondary schools in March this year.
It also follows a number of other restrictions imposed on women’s freedom, including access to public spaces.In November, women were banned from all parks in Kabul. The same month, Taliban officials in Kabul announced they would ban women from using gyms across the country.
Women are also required to wear the hijab in public and dress modestly under Taliban regulations.
