SOCIETY — March 27, 2026
Student Warns of Depression and Child Marriages Among Afghan Girls Barred from Schools Under Taliban Rule
A Kabul-based student from the Women's Online University warns that girls banned from schools under Taliban rule are facing depression, despair and forced child marriages, worsened by limited access to online education due to poverty and internet shortages. UN Women links the education ban to rises in child marriage, labor and violence, amid international calls labeling the restrictions as gender apartheid.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
A student from the Women's Online University in Kabul has warned that underage girls deprived of schooling under Taliban rule are suffering from depression, despair and forced marriages.
The student, speaking anonymously to Afghanistan International, stated that the Taliban has driven the country into darkness over the past five years. She highlighted that girls banned from schools face child marriages, depression and despair as a result.
She noted that online schools and universities have been established in Afghanistan during this period, but many girls, especially in rural areas, cannot access them due to a lack of internet connectivity and poverty.
UN Women has confirmed that depriving girls of education contributes to increased rates of child marriage, forced child labor and domestic violence against women.
International institutions have described the Taliban's restrictions on women and girls as gender apartheid and called for prosecutions. The International Court of The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for the Taliban leader for crimes against humanity.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source (Afghanistan International) provides direct interview with a named entity student from 'Women's Online University' (concrete details: Kabul location), plus attributable statements from UN Women and international institutions; 'X said Y' claims are verifiable regardless of topic sensitivity.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Afghanistan International: "Taliban has driven the country into complete darkness", "depression and despair", "gender apartheid" – these phrases employ hyperbolic emotional framing, value-laden descriptors, and advocacy terminology to negatively portray Taliban policies.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Afghanistan International
Originating
Framed
Framed
Filed under
Society — Taliban, girls education, child marriage, UN Women, ICC
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