More than 80 Afghan women, who fled the Taliban to pursue higher education in Oman, are now facing imminent deportation back to Afghanistan following the Trump administration’s freeze on foreign aid programs. Funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), their scholarships have been abruptly terminated due to a funding freeze ordered by President Donald Trump when he returned to office in January. The students, who were pursuing graduate and post-graduate courses in fields banned for women by the Taliban, are devastated by the news and are preparing for their return to Afghanistan within two weeks. They have appealed to the international community for urgent intervention, protection, financial assistance, and resettlement opportunities in a safe country where they can continue their education. The Taliban has imposed draconian restrictions on women, including banning them from universities, and has cracked down on women protesting for education and work. The Afghan women had been pursuing their studies until December 2022, when the Taliban banned higher education for women. After 18 months in limbo, they fled to Pakistan and then to Oman, where they arrived between October and November 2024. They fear severe consequences if they are sent back to Afghanistan, including losing all their dreams, being forced into marriage, and facing personal risks due to their past affiliations and activism. The Taliban government claims it has been trying to resolve the issue of women’s education but defends its policies as in accordance with Islamic Sharia law. The women in Afghanistan describe themselves as “dead bodies moving around” under the regime’s brutal policies. The decision to slash American aid funding falls under the Trump administration and has been implemented by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency. These women urgently seek a lifeline before time runs out.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg4k25wlw21o