According to a letter addressed to the Kabul Medical University midwifery faculty on Sunday, September 18th, taking pictures and video constitutes a “great sin” in Sharia law.

Following the increasing restrictions on women and girls in Afghanistan, as well as the closure of schools for girls above the sixth grade, Kabul Medical University officials recently imposed new restrictions on female students in this university in an official letter. As stated in this letter, female students at Kabul Medical University will no longer be permitted to take photos or videos on university grounds or in front of their faculties.

According to a letter addressed to the Kabul Medical University midwifery faculty on Sunday, September 18th, taking pictures and video constitutes a “great sin” in Sharia law. According to the Taliban letter, “we request the honorable heads of the faculties to tell their female students that any kind of photographing and recording in the university’s atmosphere is regarded a great sin in terms of Sharia law.”

This letter was issued by Kabul Medical University officials and has been widely distributed on social media. Some students at Kabul Medical University’s faculties think the medical university’s decision is irrational, and they tell Baang that with this decision, the Taliban have demonstrated once again that they want to tighten restrictions on female students, forcing them to drop out. “By using these tactics, the Taliban aims to completely eliminate female students from Kabul University. This group believes that if the situation continues, the girls will cease studying, but we have reminded the Taliban that we will no longer accept this sacrifice. Girls have the right to more education, and women and girls should have equal access to education.” Sharifa, a Kabul Medical University student, told Baang.

Since regaining control of Afghanistan, the Taliban have imposed the toughest restrictions on women. They have barred a number of women from working, locked the doors of schools for girls over the sixth grade, and set restrictions on women’s travel and clothing. The Taliban claim to have secured women’s rights within the context of Sharia, but they lack a precise definition, and their work has sparked internal and external criticism.