Afghanistan: Taliban backtrack on reopening high schools for girls

The Taliban have reversed a decision to allow Afghan girls to return to high schools, saying a decision is still to be made on the uniforms they must wear.

Schools were set to open after months of restrictions after the Taliban seized power last August.

But a notice from the education ministry said schools would continue to remain closed, causing confusion.

Some girls were in tears as parents and students reacted with anger and disappointment to the last-minute move.

The decision came a week after the education ministry announced schools for all students, including girls, would open around the country on Wednesday.

"We inform all girls' high schools and those schools that [have] female students above class six that they are off until the next order," the notice said.

The notice added schools would reopen after a decision over the uniform of female students was made in accordance with "Sharia law and Afghan tradition".

There have been fears the Taliban would put an end to women's education once they regained control of the country last August. They had banned formal education for girls during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001.

One of the demands of the international community was for the Taliban to grant women and girls the right to education before being able to access to foreign aid.

The sudden reversal has sparked deep anger from parents of female students.

A man who did not want to be identified told the BBC his daughter had been in shock and in tears since being refused entry by Taliban officials into the school this morning.

"If anything happens to my daughter, I will not forgive the Taliban," he said.