There is No Evidence in the Qur’an for Excluding Women; Religious Scholars Reject Taliban Restrictions

A number of Islamic scholars and religious figures from various countries have issued a joint statement condemning the Taliban’s restrictions on women in Afghanistan as “contrary to Islamic principles and human rights,” and have called for global support for the rights of Afghan women.

The statement declares that the Taliban’s actions — including depriving women of education, employment, and social participation — not only lack any religious basis, but also undermine the very “ethical foundation of Islam.” The scholars emphasized that neither the Qur’an nor the Hadith provide any justification for excluding women from social, economic, or political life.

Referring to the Hadith, “Seeking knowledge is an obligation for every Muslim man and woman,” the scholars stated that education is a collective duty. By denying women access to education, the Taliban are violating fundamental Islamic principles. The employment and social restrictions imposed by the Taliban are also based on a “biased interpretation” of Islamic rulings that ignore the diversity of Islamic jurisprudence and the tradition of ijtihad (independent reasoning).

Furthermore, the statement urges Islamic scholars worldwide, fatwa-issuing bodies, and member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take a stand against the Taliban’s misogynistic policies and to issue fatwas condemning these actions. The religious scholars also reaffirmed their commitment to stand alongside the women and girls of Afghanistan and called for urgent action to restore their fundamental rights.