PAS Youth has joined those speaking out against a decision by the Taliban government in Afghanistan to ban women students from attending university.
The party's youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari said it was a "backward step" for Afghanistan.
"PAS Youth expresses our concern regarding the newest policy implemented by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which temporarily bars female students from accessing university.
"Previously, the Taliban had allowed female access to universities. This newest policy, however, has proven to be a backward step by the Afghanistan government," he said in a statement yesterday.
On Dec 20, the Taliban government drew global flak for suspending female students from accessing university education until further notice - claiming they did not adhere to a proper "dress code".
The Taliban also said that some subjects such as engineering and agriculture were not suitable for women.
Fadhli (above) in his statement yesterday, said that Islam upholds the right to education for all and that even the Prophet Muhammad had said that seeking knowledge was "obligatory" for all Muslims.
He also said that women had played significant roles alongside men in propagating knowledge in the Islamic world.
"In fact, many (women) were the pioneers in their own respective fields, such as science, education, and politics, in the early age of Islamic civilisation.
"In addition, some of the Prophet Muhammad's hadith (sayings and actions) were narrated by female figures such as (the prophet's wives) Aisyah, Hafsah and Salamah," he said.
On the dress code, the PAS Youth chief while it is an obligation to "take care" of Muslim's aurat (modesty), banning women from universities wasn't the best method and should not have occurred in an Islamic country.
He said there were other ways to maintain the equilibrium between wearing a hijab and upholding the right to education.
Fadhli, who is also the Pasir Mas MP, added that any changes should also be implemented cautiously and tentatively so as not to tarnish Islam's image.
Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin also spoke out against the ban.
Khaled said he had written a letter to his Afghan counterpart Neda Mohammad Nadeem delivered by the latter's ambassador to Malaysia, urging the country to revisit the ban.
"I have shared with the honourable minister, among others, our country's experience and practice in Malaysia to honour women who contribute primarily to our national interest agenda.
"Malaysia has proved how women have immensely improved the nation's reputation through sound education.
"Harnessing the talent and skills of Malaysian Muslim women as equal partners in various industries has helped to thrive in Malaysia's economy to become a high-income country," he said.
The minister added that likewise, education would make Afghan women valuable assets to their nation.
Besides PAS Youth and Khaled, others who have criticised the Afghan ban include former religious minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, DAP and PKR. - Mkini
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