Against the odds: these Afghan bikers are promoting girls’ education

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It was a chilly Friday autumn when an extended roar of further than two dozen motorbikes pierced the silence in the Spin Boldak quarter of Kandahar fiefdom.

To an stranger, the unforeseen irruption before this month by a large group of men on bikes could be cause for alarm, but for the residers of the small southern townlets in the literal region of Afghanistan it was a welcome sound.

Children Crowded to the thoroughfares and excitedly chased the bikes. The men – activists with an Afghan NGO called Pen Path – were known to the children as “ sisters who bring them books”.

On this day, still, the convoy was also carrying posters with dispatches promoting girls’ education in Afghanistan, an issue that has been of growing concern since the Taliban seized control of the country on August 15.

The insurrectionary group, known for its revolutionist views particularly related to women’s freedom, has failed to renew the maturity of high seminaries for girls in the country.

“ After Taliban suspended grade 7 to 12 education for girls, we started this crusade, involving scholars, preceptors, men and women, to request the Taliban to renew girls academy. We want to emphasise that education is our Islamic and introductory right,” said Matiullah Wesa, the Afghan education activist behind Pen Path.

Mr Wesa, who started Pen Path 12 times ago because numerous sections near his birthplace in Spin Boldak were without academy installations, said he has n’t heard back from the Taliban, but remains hopeful.

“ We’ll continue this crusade because this is one issue we ca n’t remain silent on; girls’ education is our red line,” he said.
On this day, still, the convoy was also carrying posters with dispatches promoting girls’ education in Afghanistan, an issue that has been of growing concern since the Taliban seized control of the country on August 15.

The insurrectionary group, known for its revolutionist views particularly related to women’s freedom, has failed to renew the maturity of high seminaries for girls in the country.

“ We’ll continue this crusade because this is one issue we ca n’t remain silent on; girls’ education is our red line,” he said.