AKIPRESS.COM - Some female students in Afghanistan said that the continuing closure of universities for girls leaves the girls facing a bleak future while the male students are busy passing the mid-semester examinations of the universities. Girls have been banned from attending universities for more than 130 days, and there has been no news regarding their possible reopening, TOLONews reported.

These students noted that the country wouldn't benefit from the ban on women's education continuing, and they urged the Taliban authorities to reopen schools and universities for women.

"Instead of studying for the exam in universities; we are at home, and we are depressed about not taking the exams," said Gul Jan, a student.

"With the start of the midterm exams at universities and the absence of girls in the university, there is a big void in the society, women are excluded from society," said Fawzia, a student.

"Girls continue to be denied the opportunity to receive an education and worry about their uncertain future. We ask the Islamic Emirate to open schools and universities to girls as soon as feasible," said Gita, another student.

In the meantime, former US special envoy for Afghanistan's reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad asked the current Afghan government to reopen universities and schools to girls immediately.

Khalilzad on his Twitter urged the Taliban leaders to listen to the statement of Mawlawi Abdul Hamid, a religious scholar from Iran, about the education of women.

"Another wise statement directed at the Taliban leaders by Mawlawi Abdul Hamid bluntly demanding to know where in Sharia it says that high school and college education for females is forbidden. He finds no evidence for this in Sharia. Mullah Hibatullah should listen to this wise counsel. High School and colleges must be opened immediately for Afghan girls and women," Khalilzad tweeted.

Female students said that education is a fundamental right of girls and that the Taliban should not deprive them of it.

"I would have been in the eighth grade right now if the Islamic Emirate had not banned us from attending school," said Sadaf, a student.

"I want to see schools reopen to all girls because learning science is obligatory for every Muslim man and woman - they must learn science," said Zahra, another student.

Meanwhile, after the closure of schools and universities in the country for female students, some girls opened their own business. They said that after being denied access to education, they started new businesses to support their families and themselves.