University under the Taliban rule: they expel the female students by gun
After a delay of almost two and a half years, I went to the Kabul Polytechnic University, the most popular university of Afghanistan. It was my first time to go to this university after the rule of the Taliban. This university is particularly attractive to me, four and a half years of my academic memory is recorded here.
I arrived at the university station at 9:20 p.m. I went to the entrance door of the university, where I met three guards: one was standing in the middle of the door and the two others were a little further. The skirts of these three Taliban were ankle-length and their hair were long to their arms; one of them, who was in the middle of the door, stopped me; we briefly greeted and then I explained that I was coming from Bamyan University to a certain office for some little information. He answered with a few words: now it is time for girls, there is no permission until 11:30 p.m.
I repeatedly showed my ID card and this time I introduced myself with more details: I am an assistant lecturer at Bamyan University, (according to Taliban rules every university lecturer is allowed to go to any university at every time) I told him I had an official mission, after visiting there I would have been be back soon. Contrary to my expectation, the guard did not change at all and pointed me outside and said to wait there until 11:30 p.m. and emphasized: “No one without the professors and employees of this university is allowed to enter until 11:30”.
Finally, after a few minutes of conversation he didn’t allow me to enter, so I came back and sat in the corner waiting for the clock to reach 11:30.
I sat there for nearly 50 minutes and my legs were numb. I stood up, walked left and right, my mobile was in my hand and I was amusing myself. It was at this time that some girls were coming out of the door that is reserved for girls. The girls came, passed from the place where I was walking and somehow went towards the public road. I was sitting there, suddenly I noticed a sound from a distance and, as I turned my face, I saw that one of those three Taliban was calling and rushing toward me.
I also stood up and went up to him. In a few steps, when we reached each other, he said in a sharp tone “who are you and what are you doing here?” The way he came and spoke caused a wave of fear in me, but I pretended as if I didn’t feel scared and tried not to change the tone of my voice in the answer, I told him that I was that same person he met before and, for this purpose (I explained), I wanted to go inside the university, but your friend told me to wait here until 11:30 p.m.
He jumped in my words and asked me what I was doing there (pointing to the place where the girls passed) with my mobile, “were you taking pictures?” He was talking loudly and his body also was trembling. I wanted to reduce his anger a little, so I tried to answer to him gently and told him that, but he was not satisfied with this answer, he attacked me and said bitterly, to give him the mobile and he took it from my hand. First, he touched the option that displays the open apps, he saw and closed the apps one by one. Twitter app, Gmail app, Facebook app… until he reached the camera, and asked “why is it open? Did you take picture?” I answered gently that no, I did not open it, it was left over from the morning to satisfy him, he opened the gallery and saw the latest photos. He could not find what was he looking for and gave me back my mobile and said, in a threatening tone, to go and wait on the other side, that he did not want me to be seen here again (pointing to the direction of the girls). I also accepted his words and went to the place he ordered.
As the times passed, finally it was 11:30 p.m. I went inside the university. The male students were going towards the teaching building with discussions about the exam, question, grade, results… I left the students line and chose another route. From this path, I could see more of the area and easily notice the changes. Once I looked at the end of the road, there were some girls walking forward and, after a few steps, they changed their direction toward the exit door. I had almost reached the end of the path, I saw that four Talibs equipped with guns were going to warn that girls who had not yet come out, or sitting in the shade of the trees, signaled everyone to get up quickly and to get out, ordering each of them with the tip of the gun. The girls were walking in front and the Taliban were walking behind them toward the exit door.
This scene was like a shepherd driving a flock of sheep/cows. I watched this humiliating scene and was surprised by their behavior. Abruptly, one of those Taliban turned his face and saw me; so he called me with a harsh voice, asking what I was doing there. I immediately changed my direction to office. I was going toward the office and his voice came from the back: “go away soon; I don’t want to see you here again”.
I went a few steps forward, looked back and realized that all the girls had been expelled from the university and that the exit door was closed.
