Afghan fathers wrestle with education ban that bars daughters beyond primary school, according to widespread interviews.

The Taliban re‑imposed a ban in March 2022 that stops Afghan girls from attending secondary schools. Universities were closed to young women later that year. The authorities justify the policy on their interpretation of Islamic law, stating the ban is temporary. Father‑speak across the country shows widespread disbelief. Men said they are losing sleep over how to help their daughters. A few fathers have gone to prison for protesting the ban. A United Nations survey last year found that nine out of ten Afghan men considered it important for girls to attend secondary school. Nearly two‑thirds believed a father’s support for a girl’s education was pious. The UN estimates that at least one million Afghan girls have been directly affected by the restrictions on secondary education. Some families are turning to informal or online learning, but the risk of officials inspecting such arrangements remains. One father noted he could no longer send his daughters abroad. He described how the growing isolation and lack of nearby secondary schools forced him to seek underground alternatives, often at higher costs and with no formal diploma. Other fathers shared how their daughters’ talents—such as interest in astronomy or design—are stunted by the ban. Several mentioned that girls could no longer attend parks or social gatherings, adding to the psychological strain. Overall, Afghanistan’s education ban has caused fathers to hide tears and struggle to preserve their daughters’ educational prospects in the face of a policy that restricts secondary schooling for girls.