Female, male students separated by curtains in classroom as Afghan universities reopen under the Taliban

Students across Afghanistan have started returning to university classrooms after the Taliban stormed to power, and in some cases, females have been separated from their male peers by curtains or boards down the middle of the room.

Despite assurances in recent weeks that women's rights would be honoured in accordance with Islamic law, it is unclear what that will mean in practice. Credit: Reuters Photo

Teachers and students at universities in Afghanistan's largest cities - Kabul, Kandahar and Herat - told Reuters that female students were being segregated in class, taught separately or restricted to certain parts of the campus. Credit: Reuters Photo

Photographs shared by Avicenna University in Kabul, and widely circulated on social media, show a grey curtain running down the centre of the classroom, with female students wearing long robes and head coverings but their faces visible. Credit: Reuters Photo

Students attend class under new classroom conditions at Avicenna University in Kabul, Afghanistan. Credit: Reuters Photo

Students attend class under new classroom conditions at Avicenna University in Kabul, Afghanistan. Credit: Reuters Photo