Informed sources say the Taliban Ministry of Justice has ordered the private Dawat University in Kabul to suspend its educational activities and vacate the buildings it occupies.
According to the sources, university officials have been given one week to implement the order and halt the institution’s operations. The decision reportedly affects Dawat University, which is owned by Abdul Rab Rasul Sayyaf.
A source within the Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education said the decision was taken on the orders of Abdul Hakim Haqqani, the Taliban’s Minister of Justice.
The reported directive adds to concerns over the operating environment for private educational institutions in Afghanistan. Universities and other education providers have faced increased government intervention and regulatory restrictions since the Taliban returned to power.
The reasons for ordering Dawat University to stop its activities and vacate its buildings were not independently detailed in the information provided by the sources. It is also unclear whether the institution will be allowed to resume its educational activities after complying with the order.
The development comes amid wider changes in Afghanistan’s higher education sector, where universities have been subject to new regulations, restrictions and policy directives under Taliban authorities. The education sector has also faced significant challenges following restrictions on women’s and girls’ access to higher education.
The reported order against Dawat University could therefore further affect the private higher education sector in Kabul, particularly if the institution is unable to continue its academic operations.