The issue of girls’ education in Afghanistan remains a deeply contentious topic under the Taliban’s rule. In a rare display of emotion, Mohammad Nabi Omari, the Taliban’s Deputy Minister of Interior, was seen breaking down in tears while discussing the strict educational restrictions imposed by the Taliban leadership.
In a speech delivered at the Aisha Siddiqa girls’ school in Khost province, Omari urged for the reopening of girls’ schools and warned that the Taliban’s policies could lead to a generation of Afghans who are “Muslim in name only.”
His remarks have sparked intense debate about the internal divisions within the Taliban regarding girls’ education and the potential consequences of their extreme stance.
A Taliban Minister’s Emotional Plea for Girls’ Education
Mohammad Nabi Omari, a senior Taliban official with a long history within the group, made an emotional appeal for the reopening of girls’ schools in a speech on January 27.
In a video accessed by WION, Omari is seen speaking about the Taliban’s strict policies that have denied Afghan girls access to secondary and higher education since their return to power in August 2021. As he addressed the audience, he acknowledged the growing frustration among Afghans and expressed his own discontent with the restrictions.
“All I know is that even if [girls’ education] is not a religious obligation or tradition, it is at least permissible,” Omari said before breaking down in tears. His statement highlights the ongoing debate within the Taliban over whether modern education should be accessible to girls.
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While some factions within the group, including its supreme leader Hibatullah Akhundzada, remain steadfast in their opposition, others, including Omari, appear to recognize the negative implications of these policies.
#Watch | Senior Taliban Minister breaks down over girls' education
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Mawlawi Mohammad Nabi Omari, a key figure in the Haqqani Network and the First Deputy Minister for Security Affairs in the Taliban government, was seen breaking down in tears while discussing girls' education.… pic.twitter.com/gbL0z0juIe
Omari went further, appealing to the Taliban leadership to reconsider their stance: “May God guide us. Religious studies are allowed, so modern sciences should also be permitted.”
His remarks reflect a growing concern that Afghanistan’s next generation could be deprived of the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to society and compete in a rapidly advancing world.
Who Is Mohammad Nabi Omari? A Former Guantanamo Detainee and Key Taliban Leader
Mawlawi Mohammad Nabi Omari is not just any Taliban official—he is a key figure within the group, with ties to both the Haqqani Network and al-Qaeda, according to his Guantanamo Bay file.
His journey within the Taliban spans decades, beginning in 1996 when he served as the chief of security in Qalat, Zabul province. He later worked as a radio operator in Kabul and was assigned to the Taliban’s borders department under Mullah Mohammad Omar’s leadership.
Following the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, Omari returned to his home province of Khost and briefly engaged in used car sales before being captured by U.S. forces.
He was detained at the Bagram Detention Facility before being transferred to Guantanamo Bay in October 2002. His Guantanamo file described him as maintaining “strong operational ties to al-Qaeda” and being part of a “joint al Qaeda/Taliban cell in Khost.”
After spending nearly 12 years in Guantanamo, Omari was released in 2014 as part of a controversial prisoner exchange between the United States and the Taliban.
The deal, which became widely known as the “Taliban Five” exchange, involved the release of five senior Taliban detainees from Guantanamo in exchange for U.S. Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl. Following his release, Omari relocated to Doha, Qatar, where he played a key role in the Taliban’s negotiations with the U.S.
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, Omari has held influential positions within the government. He first served as the Governor of Khost province from November 2021 to October 2022 before being appointed as the First Deputy Minister for Security Affairs at the Ministry of Interior.
His recent remarks on girls’ education indicate that internal rifts may exist within the Taliban, with some members recognizing the long-term consequences of their rigid policies.
The Future of Girls’ Education in Afghanistan: A Point of Contention
Despite Omari’s emotional plea, the Taliban’s supreme leadership has not indicated any shift in their stance on girls’ education. Since seizing power, the Taliban has systematically dismantled the educational rights of women and girls, shutting down secondary schools and universities for female students.
Although they have allowed primary school education and limited vocational training, the restrictions remain among the most severe in the world.
The Taliban’s leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, has repeatedly justified the bans by citing a conservative interpretation of Islamic law. However, many Islamic scholars, including those in Afghanistan, have challenged this view, arguing that Islam encourages both men and women to seek knowledge.
Omari’s tearful remarks suggest that there is internal pressure within the Taliban to reconsider these restrictions, but whether these voices will be strong enough to bring change remains uncertain.
The international community has continuously condemned the Taliban’s policies on girls’ education, with countries and human rights organizations calling for the immediate reopening of schools and universities for Afghan women.
The United Nations and various global leaders have warned that Afghanistan’s economic and social progress will be severely hindered if half of its population is denied access to education.
Omari’s speech, while significant, may not be enough to push the Taliban leadership toward policy changes. However, it does reveal an internal struggle within the group as some members begin to realize the detrimental impact of their hardline policies. If more Taliban leaders voice similar concerns, there could be hope for a gradual shift in the future.
The sight of a senior Taliban minister breaking down in tears over girls’ education is both striking and revealing. Mohammad Nabi Omari’s emotional speech signals that divisions exist within the Taliban regarding the extreme policies enforced by the group’s leadership. His plea for the reopening of girls’ schools reflects a growing realization among some Taliban figures that their hardline stance could have devastating consequences for Afghanistan’s future.
While Omari’s remarks have sparked discussions, the Taliban leadership has not shown any immediate willingness to reverse its policies. The fate of millions of Afghan girls remains uncertain as the country grapples with one of the most restrictive education bans in modern history.
Whether Omari’s emotional appeal will lead to meaningful change remains to be seen, but his speech has certainly reignited the global debate on the importance of girls’ education in Afghanistan.
let’s enjoy few years on earth with peace and happiness….✍🏼🙏