Kabul: The Taliban regime in Afghanistan has banned university education for women causing widespread condemnation, reports news agency AFP.
The United States and the United Nations have come down heavily on the assault on human right in the war ravaged country.
Breaking its promise of more considerate rule, Taliban increased restrictions on women ignoring international outrage.
Minister for Higher Education Neda Mohammad Nadeem said in a notice to all government-run and private universities to “immediately implement the mentioned order of suspending education of females until further notice".
A spokesperson for the ministry confirmed the veracity of letter in a message to AFP.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said "the Taliban cannot expect to be a legitimate member of the international community until they respect the rights of all in Afghanistan.”
A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the UN Chief was "deeply alarmed" by the ban.
Less than two months ago, thousands of girls and women in Afghanistan took university entrance exams to choose teaching and medicine as future careers.
The decision by Taliban comes when the universities are on a winter break.
The ban is virtually leaving them in the dark with no roles for future other than managing domestic works.
After taking over the country, Taliban forced on universities “gender-segregated” classrooms and entrances. Women are directed to be taught only by women professors or old men.