In Afghanistan, the Taliban’s education ministry has ordered a purge of all books written by women from university curricula, calling them “in conflict with Sharia.” More than 600 titles have already been removed, and officials say the search continues for more.

The directive—issued by the Taliban’s deputy higher education minister—extends beyond books.

Eighteen courses related to women’s studies or human rights are being scrapped, and another 200 are under review. Afghan universities, now entirely male, reflect the Taliban’s complete erasure of women from public education.

Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are banned from attending secondary school and university.

According to a UN study (August 2025), nearly 30% of Afghan girls never start even the permitted six years of primary school. The female literacy rate stands at just 23%, compared to 96% in Israel.

The consequences are devastating. Women are forbidden to study medicine or midwifery, yet in some provinces, they’re also banned from visiting male doctors.

Scholars note that male students will now grow up shielded from women’s voices—never reading geneticist Barbara McClintock, historian Barbara Tuchman, conservationist Rachel Carson, anthropologist Jane Goodall, or novelist Jane Austen.

As one observer put it: “This is a world where young Afghan men are taught that women’s minds are forbidden territory.”

Meanwhile, a stark contrast persists: Israel ranks No 8 on the latest World Happiness Index, while Afghanistan sits at the very bottom—No. 147 out of 147 countries.

The report found that people who share meals with others feel greater happiness—an irony not lost on those observing Sukkot, “the season of our rejoicing.”

May the joy of community, learning, and shared humanity shine through even in such dark times.