Recently, public statement by Dr. Zakir Naik about the situation of girls in Afghanistan have created concerns. He stated that according to the information given to him, girls in Afghanistan receive primary education up to grade six and that the restrictions on secondary and higher education are due to “safety”, “lack of female teachers” and “environmental issues”. He also said that based on what he checked, women still can study Sharia, Arabic, and Islamic subjects, including at the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels. He describes the situation as a “delay” rather than a ban.

Verified reports from the United Nations, UNICEF, UN Women, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and Afghan civil society confirms that:

• Girls above grade six have been banned from attending secondary school and university, limiting their access to further education since 2021.
• Girls and women have been banned from universities, and preventing from studying fields such as medicine, engineering, journalism, political science, economics, computer science, and all the existed other fields.
• These closures are not temporary “delays”, they are nationwide restrictions that have lasted more than four years.
• No official timeline has been announced for reopening schools or universities.

Dr. Zakir Naik statement, even if unintentional, contribute to misinformation that minimizes the suffering of Afghan girls and their right to education.

We, the undersigned, call for:

• Correction of public misinformation regarding the status of Afghan girl’s education in Afghanistan, including statements made by influential speakers and scholars.
• Ensuring that public statements about Afghanistan reflect verified facts from credible organizations.
• Preventing the spread of inaccurate claims that may mislead communities inside or outside Afghanistan.

We urge educators, community leaders, and global citizens to join us in calling for accurate information and for the reopening of the girl’s education in Afghanistan.